National

Catholic religious to move India’s Supreme Court over tax order

Catholic religious congregations in Kerala are to challenge a state court’s order which withdrew tax exemption that religious priests and nuns enjoyed as employees of government-aided educational institutions for decades. The court in the southern Indian state refused to accept their argument that they do not take their salaries for their personal use but instead […]

Card Gracias: Tribal groups suffer ‘injustice and exploitation’ around the world

In his morning Mass online, the Archbishop of Bombay (Mumbai) – and is also president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) – spoke about his participation two years ago in the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon region, enjoined by Pope Francis. On that occasion, the cardinal realised that “challenges faced by Indigenous […]

Bishop inaugurates first Jesuit residence in Indian state

Jesuits in India have opened their first residence in the north-eastern state of Tripura. The Arrupe Inn in Jamtalibari was inaugurated in the presence of faithful by Bishop Lumen Monteiro of Agartala on July 31, the feast day of Jesuit founder Ignatius of Loyola. “We welcome them to our diocese and wish them our prayers and support as they […]

Priest’s all-India journey to promote peaceful, green world

Throughout his career as the principal of Sacred Heart College, in Kochi’s Thevara suburb, since 2010, he was known to use a bicycle to travel short distances, trying to inculcate a sense of ecological responsibility among his students and the general public. In fact, he has been known among people in Thevara as the “padiri” […]

Churches in north-eastern India pledge to fight human trafficking

Representatives of various Christian denominations in north-eastern India on July 30 pledged to fight human trafficking in the region. “Human trafficking is a serious concern all over the world. It is a sad truth that the northeast region has become the hub of cross-border human trafficking,” said Reverend Roger Gaikward, the former president of the […]

Movie titles referring to Jesus spark anger in India

A Muslim filmmaker’s two new movies with references to Jesus in their titles have taken a communal turn in southern India’s Kerala state, with a section of Christians viewing them as part of a larger plan to belittle Christ and Christians. Director Nadirsha began to face opposition after he announced his movie Eesho (Not from […]

Some 30 Christians arrested under Uttar Pradesh’s anti-conversion law

Police recently arrested nine Christians in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly violating the state’s controversial anti-conversion law, which criminalises religious conversion and denies bail to those accused. The case is cited in a study by International Christian Concern (ICC), a Christian advocacy group, which reports a recent rise in anti-Christian complaints. The document quotes one of […]

Tripura Church celebrates first World Day of Grandparents

Many parishes of Agartala diocese in the north-eastern state of Tripura on July 25 celebrated the first World Day of Grandpa-rents, declared by Pope Francis. “Our parishes have traditionally been celebrating the Senior Citizens Day on the Sunday prior or after the feast of Saints Joachim and Anna, the grandpa-rents of Jesus. This year we […]

Eviction-facing Indian Catholics to fight Muslim charity’s claims

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica