For centuries, Catholics in India have drawn support from and expressed their faith through the liturgies, traditions and spiri-tualities of three different rites; Pope Francis said it is time that all of them, no matter where they live in the country, have their own bishops.

The Vatican announced on 10 October that Pope Francis had created two new eparchies, or dioceses, for the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church and extended the boundaries of two others. A letter from Pope Francis to all the bishops of India explained the move.

Close to 20 million Catholics live in India; the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church has about 4.2 million members and the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church has about 450,000 faithful.

“In India, even after many centuries, Christians are only a small proportion of the population and, consequently, there is a particular need to demonstrate unity and to avoid any semblance of division,” Pope Francis wrote. But the different Catholic rites do not have to be a sign of division when they are, in fact, “a treasure” for the church.

“I have therefore authorized the Congregation for the Oriental Churches to provide for the pastoral care of the Syro-Malabar faithful throughout India by the erection of two Eparchies and by the extension of the boundaries of the two already in existence” Pope Francis wrote.

“I decree also that the new circumscriptions, as with those already in existence, be entrusted to the pastoral care of the Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly and to the Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church, according to the norms of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.”

“This is a historic move,” said Fr Paul Thelakat, a senior priest of the church and its former spokesperson. “It removes administrative restrictions imposed on the church by Portuguese missionaries since the 16th century.”

Catholic women leaders have drawn inspiration from the faith shown by survivors of the violent anti-Christian Kandhamal attacks when they recently visited the region in the eastern Indian State of Odisha.

On Oct. 5 a group of 20 women visited the remote, impoverished area of Odisha where villagers were attacked by rampaging Hindu nationalists in late August 2008, leaving 100 people dead and thousands homeless. They were the worst attacks on Christians in India’s history.

The women were among 50 leaders from across India who had gathered in Bhubaneswar, capital of Odisha, for a conference organized by the Indian bishops’ Commission for Women. The conference, held from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4, discussed the role of women in the family.

“I am strengthened in faith after visiting the region,” said Rosemary Sahayam from Madhya Pradesh in central India. “How families continue to live in faith and confidence even after their relations were killed for their faith is truly inspiring.”

The anti-Christian violence engulfed more than 600 villages. Those killed included the disabled and elderly people, children and women. Several rapes were reported, including that of a Catholic nun. More that 350 churches and 6,500 houses were looted and burned down during the attacks leaving 56,000 people homeless.

The anti-Christian attacks were fuelled by the gunning down on Aug. 23, 2008 of a Hindu spiritual leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, 85, and four of his associates. Hindu extremists blamed Christians for the murders even though Maoists claimed responsibility for the deaths.

Archbishop Thumma Bala of Hyderabad condemned the false accusations and derogatory comments made by Hindu leader Swami Paripoornananda Saras-wathi against Mother Teresa in a recent television debate.

A Telugu Channel based in Hyderabad on Sept 22 broadcast a debate between Swami Paripoornananda Saraswathi, Head of Sreepeetham at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, and Dalit rights activist Professor Kancha Illaiah regarding the caste controversy and protests around Illaiah’s new book.

Swamiji diverted the topic calling Professor Illaiah “a foreign agent” and dragged Christianity and Mother Teresa into the debate. He alleged that “Mother Teresa organized the illegal trafficking of 50,000 women, making them work as nuns after converting them to Christianity.”

The Archbishop said the comments of Paripoornananda Swamiji were totally uncalled for as “the subject of the discussion was something different. It was not necessary for Swamiji to speak of the Pope and Mother Teresa.”