Christmas Celebratory Again In Holy Land Amid Ongoing War; Patriarch Urges Pilgrims To Return
Vatican: Former Choir Director, Manager Convicted Of Embezzlement, Abuse Of Office
Christians in Aleppo feel an uneasy calm amid rebel takeover of Syrian city
Kathmandu synodality forum: Indigenous people, ‘not the periphery but at the heart of the Church’
Indian Cardinal opposes anti-conversion law in poll-bound state
12,000 gather as Goa starts exposition of St. Francis Xavier relics
I wish to congratulate you, not so much for the appointment as Major Archbishop, but for the hope that you would bring to rest at least for a while the intrigues and fights that have been wounding the Syro-Malabar Church and that there could be ‘listening ears’ amid arguments and counter-arguments on the non-essentials. Pope Francis has given you a mandate – ‘don’t forget the poor.’ That could be the ‘horizon’ (in your own words) for the Syro-Malabar Church, emerging from this unwanted, childish and synod-led crisis. The huge churches (mansions), with Vatican Basilica-type domes, all along the tiny but enrapturing strip of land of Kerala – god’s own country (Hindu, Christian, Islamic, Dalit, Marxist, trans-gender gods?) – do not invite ‘seekers’ inside, but turn true believers into ‘outsiders.’ The Year 2023 gave us ‘The Face of the Faceless’ – that heroic martyr called ‘Rani Maria’ – a true and brave daughter of the Syro-Malabar Church, and a martyr for Justice – witnessed the worst churchy fights, initiated by a thoughtless and provocative Synod, and masterminded by ‘chaldaya vadis’ for whom Jesus of the gospels is to be hidden ‘behind the curtain.’ When Pope Francis defined God as Mercy, and went to Baghdad to release “Fratelli tutti,’ the bishop of Pala is inventing Love Jihad in order to protect his women-folk from the Muslims, this in spite of an obligatory Syrian Catechesis for 12 years of school education. Mi
The ignorant in the media and the more ignorant on social media have presumed that it was a delegation of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, or a representative delegation of Catholic prelates who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently in his hotel room in Kochi during the political leg of his visit to Kerala. The presence of two senior Catholic cardinals and an archbishop among the eight may possibly have conveyed this wrong message. The apex body of Catholic Bishops, indeed, has been remarkably quiet on Christian persecution in the country, and other burning issues that beset India. Its silence has intrigued civil society, and disheartened human rights activists among the clergy, men, and women, religious, and the laity, especially outside Kerala. With parliament muted, if not enslaved and overwhelmed by an extreme right-wing religious nationalist ideology – worse, violent, and often armed cadres roam the cities and countryside as if on patrol – it is civil society that has stood guard against dictatorship. Civil society reaches out to the more concerned amongst citizens, and in fact is at the heart of the alternate media that is holding aloft the banner of a free media though its most rich and powerful TV and newspapers have become lapdogs, or Godi Media, as they are now called. The Church, irrespective of faith or denominational identity, has been an important pillar of civil society. It was integral to the struggle against social evils and political tyr
With a decisive move to remove two Syro-Malabar prelates from their positions, Pope Francis has created an atmosphere to bring a long-drawn-out controversy, involving even physical violence, to an apparent amicable conclusion without some feeling winners and others losers in the conflict. But then, is it really a win-win situation, given that there is an obligation to end the liturgical dispute by Christmas 2023 following the directives of the Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church? Pope Francis, moved by the deep divisions and wounds within the Syro-Malabar Church, in his video message, emphasizes the critical need to restore communion, which is the heartbeat of the Church. “Resignation” in such cases, obviously, is a euphemism and a device for face-saving and facilitating a dignified exit. In fact, the pope has thanked generously Cardinal George Alencherry for his “witness of fidelity to the Gospel,” and some may say even more than what he deserves as his tenure generated a string of controversies, including his startling comments on the issue of fishermen shot at sea by marines on an Italian vessel. Synodality has emerged as the pivotal principle of the Church at all levels. If there is any doubt regarding the importance of Christ’s faithful participating in the governing role of the Church – despite the present code reserving it only for clerics – the synodal structure of the Oriental Churches serves as a case. It calls for enlisting the participat
It is Constitution Day once again! We, the people of India, gratefully remember 26 November 1949 when the Constitution of India was passed and adopted by the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly comprised women and men of distinction, who were able to represent the heart and soul of the people of India without fear or favour. They gave of their best, so that we may a visionary Constitution, which would be the mainstay for and of democracy in India! In less than six months from now (around end-April, early-May 2024), the General Elections 2024 are due to be held in the country. These elections are expected to be crucial in the context of the future of democracy in India. One does not need too much of intelligence to realise that the country has reached abysmal depths on possibly every parameter necessary for a vibrant, meaningful and people-centred democracy. It is imperative therefore, that every single adult citizen (above the age of 18 years) of the country exercises one’s franchise and does so wisely. Before that however, one needs to ensure that one’s name is registered on the Electoral Rolls. As a starting point: FIRST visit the website of the Election Commission of India https://eci.gov.in/ for immediate, updated and accurate information regarding the entire election process. This website has all the necessary information. In some places, it has already been announced that 9 December 2023, will be the last date for registering one’s name on the Electo
The obscure jungle district of Kandhamal in Odisha – one of the least developed among 760 districts in the country – is now known all over the world. The credit goes to the poor but valiant Christians who embraced martyrdom like the ‘Early Christians’ when they were threatened with death to forsake their faith in Christ. When the news of the Vatican granting green signal for initiating beatification process for 35 Catholic martyrs of Kandhamal was communicated by Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli Apostolic Nuncio to India, I was thrilled along with thousands. The Oct 18 ‘nihil obstat’ from the Vatican Dicastery for Causes of Saints has cleared the path “to initiate the process of beatification for the Servant of God Kantheswar Digal and companions, martyrs of Kandhamal” from the 2008 persecution of Christians. Encounters with the kins of these martyrs and thousands of living ones who survived martyrdom changed the course of my life visiting Kandhamal 35 times the ‘holy land of India’ sanctified by the blood of heroic Christians over last 15 years. Now the roads are clear for Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack Bhubaneswar Archdiocese that covers Kandhamal, to set the canonization process in motion. The first step is going to be the Archdiocesan council meeting to decide the date and plans for officially initiating the process. It needs huge planning as it involves as many as at a time seldom in in history. How did Kandhamal achieve this unique status in the ann
