National

Indian Church to observe August 10 as ‘Day of Mourning’

The Church in India will observe August 10 as a “Day of Mourning” for Christians and Muslims of Dalit origin. “Throughout India, August 10 is being observed as ‘Day of Mourning’ in all the churches. Rallies, demonstrations and candle vigils are conducted and specials prayers are offered in the churches,” says a press release from […]

Church pays tribute to Indian politician who loved Christians

Church leaders have expressed their condolences following the death of Sushma Swaraj, India’s former external affairs minister, recalling her role in securing freedom for two abducted Catholic priests. Swaraj, a prominent member of the pro – Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), died on August 6 following a heart attack. She was 67. “She brought a […]

For 3 months, no girls were born in 132 Indian villages

A northern Indian district has launched an investigation into a region in which the birth rate of baby girls is in dramatic decline. Government data has revealed that among 216 babies born across 132 villages in the last three months, not even one of them was a girl. The district administration of the Uttarkashi region […]

Concern grows as Mother Teresa nun remains in Indian jail

Church activists suspect political interference and sectarian hate in the continued incarceration of a Missionaries of Charity nun who was arrested a year ago accused of child trafficking in eastern India’s Jharkhand State. Sister Concelia Baxla filed a fresh bail application in the state’s High Court on July 12. Her bail was rejected by several […]

Spate of lynching incidents worry church people in India

Church leaders in India have concerns of further civilian unrest after mob attacks killed eight people in three separate incidents over the weekend. In the latest incident on July 20, a group of more than 10 men beat and killed four people, two men and two women, in the Gumla district of Jharkhand State. The […]

Visakhapatnam Police circular on churches irks BJP leaders

A circular from the office of the Visakhapatnam police commissioner asking police stations to take steps to prevent attacks on Christians and churches has led political uproar and protests. The Bharatiya Janata Party leaders objected to the circular’s choice of words. They say the police should not have mentioned any community or place of worship […]

Missionary bishops pray for unity, plead for peace

Missionary bishops and other missionaries from the Syro-Malabar Church working in Northeast India have decided to pray for Peace and Unity in their Mother Church and urge especially other missionaries of the same background to do the same. They have also decided to make an earnest appeal to every section of the Syro-Malabar Church, Hierarchy, […]

Church land probe sparks anger in India

Christians in India’s Jharkhand State have claimed that a government plan to probe church land holdings amounts to persecution. The state government is controlled by the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which also rules nationally and has been accused of having an anti-Christian agenda. “This is surely a vindictive action,” Kuldeep Tirkey, leader of the […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica