Nirmala Carvalho

Demonstrators gathered to protest against attacks on Catholic churches over the past two months. Police declared the rally "Illegal". For Card Gracias, treating "Christians like criminals" was "a shameful stain on secular and democratic India." The government denies visas to two Vatican officials without explanation. They were only supposed to take part in a conference.

The story of two young women illustrates what the Asian Movement of Women Religious against Human Trafficking (AMRAT) is doing. The group represents the combined efforts of female religious orders in South Asia. In 2013, India had 15 million slaves, with 4,566 reported cases the same year, mostly children and girls.

In the coming weeks these Discalced Carmelites will pronounce their final profession. In preparation they participated in an intensive course in the monastery of Baroda. The Year of Consecrated Life (November 30, 2014 - February, 2nd 2016) also marks the 500th anniversary of St. Teresa of Avila, reformer of the Carmelite order.

During his official visit to India, the US president spoke out in defence of freedom of worship, citing Article 25 of the Indian Constitution. Sajan K George welcomed the words of the US leader in a nation "where violence against minorities, especially Christians, is commonplace." Hindu extremist movements support the government, a "stain" on the country's secular credentials.

Msgr. Felix Machado comments on the announcement of the cause of beatification of the founder of the Focolare Movement. A "simple, direct, holy woman, who worked for the human family". Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists on the continent appreciate her work.

The leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is calling for legislation to this effect. In the past three days, more than 100 Christians have been involved in "reconversion" to Hinduism. For the Global Council of Indian Christians, this is a "grave violation of a person's freedom of choice and conscience".

Police have identified three culprits, who might be Sikh. For the president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), the deed is related to upcoming elections in Delhi. In his view, "some will try to polarise the electorate along communal lines".

An additional 122 people have been hospitalised in serious condition. Many are on ventilators, whilst some have lost their eyesight. The shop owner who sold the deadly brew has been arrested. Despite its toxicity, methyl alcohol is used in homemade drinks because it is cheap.

On the same day, Hindu radical groups attacked a Protestant community in Bihar and Pentecostals in Karnataka. For the president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, "extremist groups feel encouraged to attack Christians because they are not restrained by the law."

The archbishop of Mumbai told AsiaNews, "In India we know religious intolerance and violence in the name of God. The recent massacre has no justification, but we must remain vigilant against prejudice based on membership in a community."

In Uttar Pradesh, a radical Hindu group filed a complaint against the Christian man, accusing him of forced conversions. Although there is no evidence of the use of force, the police placed him in a state of preventive detention for 14 days.

The police closed the case. The clergyman blames arson because CCTV videos show something being poured on the crèche. For Christian leader, this is "a serious violation of the secular credentials of the Indian Constitution."