Nirmala Carvalho

The authorities have detained Rev. Paul Augustine, local coordinator for Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC). The Christian pastor was attending a Sunday service. Sajan George, president of the association: "The law of the majority prevails. Where the will of the greatest number enforces that the beliefs and practices of the minority remain threatened "

Violence against individual Christians and Churches continues unabated. Near Agra, a group of Protestants, who met to pray for an elderly woman, were beaten and accused of trying to convert the family.

The Sisters of the Child Mary have received letters in threatening to “burn the school and the local church” if they do not leave. The police step up security around the institute. Archbishop of Calcutta: "We do not know who is behind the threats, but we are not scared. The sisters will never leave their mission".

Stones fired at St. George’s in Mumbai (Maharashtra); extremists beat and rob some faithful in Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), and then demolish the door of the cathedral. Catholic bishops condemn the attacks to AsiaNews. Religious leaders denounce the pervasive climate of impunity: "Extremists are becoming increasingly brazen."

The archbishop of Mumbai co-celebrated Mass on the feast day dedicated to the saint. In his homily, he mentioned "the atrocities that happen in so many parts of our country and for the Middle East," as well as "the nun who was violated" in West Bengal. Today, the prelate also led a Mass of reparation for the attack on the convent of Jesus and Mary.

Fr Errol Fernandes SJ, professor of Scriptures at Mumbai's archdiocesan seminary, is behind the initiative. This year's 'Net Retreat' will run from 23 March to 5 April. "It is my constant endeavour to make God's word as practical and tangible as possible."

The President of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) slams the mind-set of people like Surendra Jain, joint secretary of the fundamentalist group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). Speaking of the gang rape of a 72-year-old nun in, he accused Christians of "notoriously abusing nuns". Speaking about acts of vandalism against a church, he said, "When they [Christians] let us do that [build a temple in the Vatican], we will ask them to choose any place in India to build a church".

Police arrest eight men for the gang rape of the superior of the convent of the Religious of Jesus and Mary in West Bengal. CCTV images fundamental. The sister is hospitalized in stable condition. Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC): "The apathy of the authorities in bringing to justice those radical elements foments religious violence".

A group of about eight individuals broke into Jesus and Mary Convent in Ranagath, which includes a highly regarded school. In the course of the robbery, the thieves raped the superior and beat up three other nuns. All the victims are currently in hospital. Reacting to the incident, local residents took to the streets and set up roadblocks. The authorities also condemned the "heinous crime".

The militants raided the home of a private citizen, accusing those present of forced conversions. Pentecostal pastor and the owner of the house arrested, later released. Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC): "Ironic that the police, which by law has the duty to protect citizens, accompanied the fundamentalists".

Mary of Jesus Crucified, a Carmelite Blessed, will be canonised on 17 May. In 1870, the Palestinian nun took part in the foundation of a Carmelite monastery in Mangalore, India. "We call on the 'little Arab' to pray for the Arab world, both Christian and Muslim," says prioress of the cloistered nuns of Baroda.

The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) calls on the state government to stop the president of the Hindu nationalist Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) whose presence could "cause public disturbances". Sadhvi Balika Saraswati, another radical activist, urges Hindus to "rebuild the temple of Ram in Ayodhya," and calls for giving "young Hindu women a sword, and if a Muslim just looks at them, they will cut off his head."