Indian Church refuses to endorse political party in election
Assam Christians outraged by Hindu leader’s “divisive” remarks
Moral theologians address challenges in biomedical ethics in India
Persecution of Christians has worsened around the globe, according to new study
Pope to Cardinals-elect: Keep your eyes raised, your hands joined, your feet bare
Tribal Christians avoid travel fearing attack in India’s Manipur
Pope Francis’ visit to Singapore ‘has revived the faith of our people,’ cardinal says
Cardinal Dolan: Harris received ‘bad advice’ to skip Catholic charity dinner
Newspapers, TV and social media are full of stories of the plight of migrant workers stranded in various parts of India.Deaths of workers on the highways and railway tracks because of accidents and hunger have become daily news. Media also carry stories of exploitation of these workers by private truck drivers who ferry them to their home towns. Some social workers distribute food packets to them more for publicity than expressing compassion.Pressure from various quarters has forced the government to arrange trains for these workers to go home. But they have to pay for the tickets. The Congress party had offered to pay the workers’ travel expenses but the government declined it. Why didn’t the government pay for their tickets from the PM CARES fund created for managing Covid-19 crisis?All government ‘servants,’ including the President, Prime Minister, Ministers, Members of Parliament and state legislatures, Judges, and others enjoy high salary and other benefits.However, India’s 487 million workers in the unorganized sector, who build the country’s economy with their sweat and blood, take no special benefits from the government or their employers. They just get the wages. Neither the government nor the rich who employed them are least bothered paying them insurance, medical assistance or provident fund.Now when they are without work for their daily living, the employers and the government have left them to die. This is against the Indian Consti
The social media these days, especially in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, is flooded with reports, photos and videos of relief works such as distribution of cooked food and grocery items.These reports also are often accompanied with an “Appeal for donation.” Various categories of people like migrant laborers, slum dwellers, footpath dwellers, transgender people, gypsy communities and orphan children are shown in the photos receiving the items. Such photos mostly show the givers and receivers posing for photographs and videos. Such photos/videos are an ‘eyesore.’The ‘act of giving’ something to the needy people is commendable. But the ‘process of giving’ and the subsequent ‘publicity’ are questionable.In the initial stages, NGOs had a “Charity Approach.” In this model the focus was on input and ‘increased charity works’. People were seen as victims and deserved assistance. They were objects, passive and always at the receiving end. This approach recognized the moral responsibility of the rich towards poor. People were called ‘beneficiaries.’Later it changed into “Needs Approach”. It recognized only the needs of the people and emphasized meeting the needs. Individuals were seen as objects of developmental interventions. Hence the needs of the victims were met since they deserved assistance. People were called ‘target/focus groups.’This approach then further changed into “Rights based Approach.” It emphasized the re
It was very motherly of Asha Devi to express happiness when the four convicts, who had gang raped and brutally killed her beloved daughter, were finally hanged to death in Tihar jail in the early hours on March 20, 2020. It was understandable of the emotions of satisfaction of the girl’s father Badrinath Singh. Scores of others, especially the women groups and seekers of justice, rejoiced that after waiting for more than seven years, justice was finally granted to Nirbhaya.No one will justify the gang rape and atrocious murder of that young medical student in a moving bus in Delhi. That’s why there were spontaneous protests and demonstrations immediately after the incident.The hard-cored convicts must be absolutely penalized for their heinous crime. That will serve also as a deterrent to other criminals, who dare to commit such atrocious crimes in our society.But the question is: Is killing the convicts the only justice in this 21st century? Can we ascertain that their hanging will put an end to rape and murder? Though these convicts have committed a deplorable crime, can we not give these youngsters in their 20’s to repent and amend their lives after a rigorous punishment with life guidance? Since the convicts had been trying every legal loopholes till the last moment reveal that they had been undergoing all these years a psychological torture. They had been dying all these seven years. That’s why before the execution these youngsters had refused to eat,
Congratulations for publishing Fr. Cedrick’s letter in your latest issue. It is good that he, as a well known person had the courage to write it. I do not know how many bishops will read it or even respond through your columns. As you may remember, how many times in the past starting from my speech to the Plenary session of the CBCI in in 1975 March, I have made the same plea but with no result.P.T. Kuriakose
March 19, 2020: Earlier today, I announced that I will not be running for re-election as Washington State’s lieutenant governor and have decided to enter the Society of Jesus. This decision follows two years of careful and prayerful discernment.But because that process has been almost entirely private, I realize that this will come as a major surprise to my constituents and supporters. Many will be wondering why someone who has spent the last eight years climbing the political ladder and who has a not insignificant chance of acceding to the governorship next year, would trade a life of authority for one of obedience. I want to take a moment to discuss this decision as well as to express my profound gratitude to all those who have helped make these eight years in elected office so successful and rewarding.I was elected as state representative in 2012, state senator in 2014 and lieutenant governor in 2016. My reasons for running for those positions and my priorities in office were firmly rooted in Catholic social teaching, which places the poor, the sick, the disabled, the immigrant, the prisoner and all who are marginalized at the center of our social and political agenda. I knew from childhood what it was like to be excluded for being a blind kid from an Iranian family, and I have tried to use the power I have been given by the voters to ensure that we move urgently toward that day when no one will feel left behind or left out in our society.That is why, as a le
