National

Pope Francis still plans to come to India

Pope Francis says he is still keen to visit India, a country he keeps in his heart and for which he deeply cares. This was the answer the Pope gave to a question asked by an Indian youth delegate on January 26 during lunch with the Holy Father at the side-lines of the 34th World […]

HINDU RADICALS VANDALISE CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN MAHARASHTRA

Members of the Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the Shiv Sena, a hard-line Hindu party, vandalised a Catholic School in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. The Holy Cross High School for girls, in Nagala Park, is run by Holy Cross Sisters. The school principal reports that the pupils who, along with the teachers were witnesses to the […]

98 TRIBAL CHRISTIANS RECONVERTED TO HINDUISM, CLAIMS RIGHT-WING GROUP

The Hindu Jagran Manch, a Hindu right-wing group, claimed that 98 Christians belonging to 23 tribal families were “reconverted” to Hinduism in Tripura. The people, mostly tea garden workers hailing from Bihar and Jharkhand, had been converted to Christianity in 2010, Tripura unit president of the Hindu Jagran Manch Uttam Dey said. “This is like […]

MINISTER RAJNATH SINGH CALLED FOR A NATIONAL DEBATE ON MASS CONVERSIONS

Interior Minister Rajnath Singh expressed concern over mass conversions in the country and called for a national debate on the issue. Speaking at a meeting organized by Rashtriya Isai Mahasangh, a Christian group, he clarified that mass conversions must be controlled. In the meeting, held in New Delhi on January 15, the minister said he […]

LEADING JURIST IN INDIA SAYS VATICAN ABUSE SUMMIT MUST ADDRESS ‘MORAL PERSPECTIVE’

A retired judge from India’s Supreme Court says the upcoming Vatican summit on clerical abuse is “very important” and the Catholic Church has an obligation to hold a “correct moral perspective.” Justice Kurian Joseph, who is Catholic, spoke to Crux in Mumbai on Jan. 17. Pope Francis has called the heads of all the bishops’ conferences […]

ARTISTS PROTEST LOYOLA COLLEGE’S APOLOGY OVER SATIRICAL PAINTINGS ROW

Artists in Chennai are unhappy that Loyola College has apologised for display of satirical paintings on contemporary issues on campus. On January 21, the Catholic minority institution now at the centre of a controversy over art works put up by a cultural group not from the college had apologised after right wing Hindu groups alleged […]

SYRO-MALABAR CHURCH TO SET UP INTERNAL COMMITTEES

Hit by controversies, including sexual abuse involving priests, the Kerala-based Syro-Malabar Catholic Church has decided to set up internal committees at the diocesan level to create a “safe environment” for all, including children and vulnerable adults. The decision to implement the “Safe Environment Policy” was taken at the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Archiespicoal Church being […]

ANDHRA PRADESH TO HIKE AID FOR JERUSALEM PILGRIMAGE

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced that the State government would increase the financial aid to the Christians for the Jerusalem pilgrimage from Rs 40,000 to Rs 75,000. He also announced Rs 1.5 crore financial aid to the CSI St Pauls Basilica Church known as CSI Church located near the State Guest House. Stating […]

Indian bishops slam terror attack on tourists in India’s Kashmir

No action taken against police who assaulted Catholic priests in India