National

Gracias applauds Modi for “emphatic” election victory

The head of the Catholic Church in India has congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his emphatic victory in the just concluded general elections. “On behalf of the Catholic Church in India, and on my own behalf, I extend my heartiest congratulations to you and to the Bharatiya Janata Party,” Cardinal Oswald Gracias, president of […]

Vaidehi Vijayakumar is VC, Mother Teresa Women’s University

Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit appointed Vaidehi Vijayakumar as Vice-Chancellor of the Mother Teresa Women’s University at Kodaikanal. Purohit, who is also the Chancellor of the University, said Vijayakumar would hold office for a period of three years. Vijayakumar had served Anna University and several overseas universities including Ryerson University, Canada as professor and has […]

Supreme Court suspends tax on priests, nuns

The Supreme Court of India has given temporary relief to priests and nuns who were asked to pay income tax for the salary they earn working in government-funded educational institutions. The top court on May 9 asked authorities to maintain the status quo of not collecting such taxes and agreed to hear an appeal against […]

Two-child norm for subsidies, government jobs urged

The Delhi High Court on May 28 was moved for implementation of the national commission to review the working of the Constitution (NCRWC) proposal on population control and ‘two-child norm’ as a criteria for government jobs, aid and subsidies. A public interest litigation (PIL), filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, sought direction to the Centre […]

Indian missionary finds great thirst for Gospel in Africa

Sister Carmel Madathiparampil began working in Africa as a missionary since 1993. That was the year, the Daughters of St Paul, started the African mission project to commemorate the birth centenary of Servant of God Thecla Merlo, who founded the congregation along with Blessed James Alberione. It also coincided with Madathiparampil’s 25 years in the […]

Indian court suspends tax on priests, nuns

The Supreme Court of India has given temporary relief to priests and nuns who were asked to pay income tax for the salary they earn by working in government-funded educational institutions. The top court on May 9 asked authorities to maintain the status quo of not collecting such taxes and agreed to hear an appeal […]

“Arson” destroys church in Tamil Nadu

A church in Tamil Nadu was destroyed in a suspicious arson attack, Matters India learnt on May 11. According to Shibu Thomas, founder of Persecution Relief, the incident occurred on April 24 at Thittacherry, Nagapattinam. Member of the “Jesus with us” had gathered in the church for a fasting prayer meeting. The meeting ended late […]

Persecution brought us religious vocation: Kandhamal sisters

Hundreds of Christians and Hindus attended a thanksgiving Mass for two sisters who became full-fledged Catholic nuns after suffering religious persecution as teenagers in Odisha’s Kandhamal district. While Manjuta Pradhan professed final vows as a member of the Franciscan Sisters of St Joseph on April 27, her elder sister pronounced her vows in the Daughters […]

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

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica