National

Archbishop asks Indian state government to return Christ statue to cemetery

The Archbishop of Bangalore decried on March 4 the removal of a statue of Christ from a Christian cemetery. The statue was taken down after complaints from non-local Hindus. “It is very sad, unfortunate and regrettable that the police, bowing to the pressure of a few outsiders, have forcefully removed the statue of Lord Jesus,” […]

Women petition Cardinal Gracias for more decision-making roles

About 150 Catholic women in India have delivered a petition to Cardinal Oswald Gracias, asking that he take concrete steps to better include women in decision-making roles in the global church. The women are partly responding with Gracias, in which the cardinal acknowledged a bias among the members of the Catholic Church’s all-male hierarchy against […]

Catholic groups team up to help Delhi riot victims

Various groups of Catholics in Delhi have decided to pool their resources and personnel for relief and rehabilitation works among the victims of sectarian violence in the national capital. They met on March 10 under the leadership of Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi and decided to work under the banner of the archdiocese and witness […]

Retired bishop becomes assistant parish priest

Bishop Sebastianappan Singaroyan, who resigned as the head of Salem diocese for health reasons, has moved to a parish to work as an assistant pastor. Pope Francis on March 9 accepted the resignation of the 68-year-old bishop and appointed a diocesan administrator. Bishop Singaroyan, who resigned seven years before the statutory age of retirement for […]

Covid-19: Religious leaders in India urge precautions

Two Catholic prelates and a Hindu religious leader were among those calling for precautions in the wake of growing scare over coronavirus or COVID-19. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, has asked his people to take five precautionary steps during religious services until April 12, the Easter Sunday, to check […]

Trump praised for raising issue of religious freedom in India

An organisation of Indian-American Christians has thanked US President Donald Trump for raising the issue of religious freedom and the plight of minorities during his talk with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying political tranquillity is fundamental to economic progress. The Federation of Indian American Christian organisations in North America (FIACONA) said it “truly hopes” that […]

Vatican drops ‘caste tag” of India’s new saint

As India prepares to welcome its newest saint, a controversy over his name and its relationship with the Hindu caste system has come to the fore. A Vatican decree announced a miracle had been approved for Blessed Devasahayam, clearing the way for his canonization. However, when Devasahayam was declared a Blessed in 2012, the name […]

American bishop amazed at India’s vibrant Catholicism

Earlier this year, Bishop J. Mark Spalding of Nashville visited India to express his thanks and gratitude to the families and religious order superiors of the 11 Indian priests living and serving in his diocese. “Since I’ve been bishop, every priest from India has invited me to go to their home country and experience India […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica