National

Bomb explodes in Catholic school premises in Manipur

All Catholic educational institutions in Manipur will close June 7 to protest an explosion on the premises of a Church school in Imphal, capital of the north-eastern Indian state. The decision was taken during an emergency meeting with the Catholic Educational Society Manipur (CESM) executives and Archbishop House Curia officials following the incident in one […]

Sikh leader calls for countering conversion to Christianity

A top Sikh leader on June 6 expressed concern over churches and mosques being built in large numbers in rural Punjab and urged Sikh preachers to reach out and counter this trend of conversion, particularly in the state’s border areas. Akal Takht (seat of power) acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said at his customary address […]

Late Indian Jesuit honoured with rights ‘Nobel Prize’

Father Stan Swamy, the late Indian Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist, has been posthumously awarded the Martin Ennals Award, regarded as the Nobel Prize for human rights defenders. Eighty-four-year-old Father Swamy, who was arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case and died in custody in July 2021, was accorded the honour by the Martin Ennals Foundation […]

Catholic priest kidnapped, robbed in Karnataka

A Catholic priest says he has not overcome the trauma of kidnap and robbery even a week after the incident. “I am alive today only because of God’s grace. I was afraid the gang would kill and bury me at a place that nobody would find out,” says Father Dominic Pulickapadavil, a member of the […]

Indian Catholics welcome Pope’s move on religious brothers

Indian Catholics, both lay people and religious, have welcomed Pope Francis ushering in equality and fraternity in religious congregations that have priests and brothers as members. “It is not a small technical or legal change but a profound shift with enormous theological and spiritual implications,” Delhi-based Jesuit moral theologian Father Stanislaus Alla told on May […]

Karnataka governor ignores Christians’ pleas, signs anti-conversion ordinance

The Karnataka government has passed an ordinance to abolish religious conversions in the southern Indian state ignoring resistance from the Catholic Church and other groups. Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot ordinance on May 17 signed the ordinance a day after a Catholic delegation headed by Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore appealed against the ordinance through […]

Only 10% Indians have 25,000 rupee monthly income

The latest State of Inequality in India Report indicates a vast income distribution disparity in the country. The report prepared by Economic Advisory Council to the prime minister shows the need to address gaps to help the country achieve social progress and shared prosperity. India has proved the overall condition of households, with access to […]

Peace activist launch interreligious prayer in Varanasi

Peace activists from various religions have launched a series of interreligious prayer services at different parts of Varanasi as sectarian tension over the Gyan Vapi mosque controversy gripped Hinduism’s most sacred city. “These prayers are taken from ten different religious sources namely Hindu, Tao, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Jain, Buddhist, Christian and Muslim faith tra-ditions. They were […]

Salesians elect Maltese priest Fabio Attard as Don Bosco’s 11th successor

Pope Francis does not accept Cardinal Koch’s resignation: could continue at least until anniversary of Council of Nicea