Nirmala Carvalho

Marking anniversary, Mumbai’s Carmelites hold Eucharistic celebration and a day of Adoration. Mother Prioress: "The spirit of Teresa of Jesus is the same today, with the Synod and the Year of Faith, the Church searches for the fullness of God." For Benedict XVI, the saint’s "bold" evangelization "retains all its freshness in the current crossroads" where there is "the baptized need to urgently renew their hearts through personal prayer."

The 2011 figures are from a study released by India's Central Statistical Organisation. Tomorrow, the world marks International Day of the Girl. "Government, civil society and families should work closely together" against patriarchal gender bias, says doctor member of the Pontifical Academy for Life. Maharashtra wants selective abortion to be treated as murder.

A government study focuses on the problem. Post-natal mortality in the first month of birth drops to 20 per cent for women with a grade 12 education or more. Berlyn Fernandes, who heads a Mumbai kindergarten, notes that "education reduces the dangers of malnutrition and anaemia, and increases the likelihood that women will go to the hospital or health centres in case of emergency."

Hindu nationalists attacked and beat the Pentecostal community, then the police arrested faithful and pastor. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) demands the Orissa government open an investigation against police. Sajan George, president of the GCIC, "Exploiting anti-conversion laws to persecute minorities."

Fr. Errol Fernandes SJ, an expert in communication and new technologies, says new technologies are among the "best tools" to get in touch with others. Not surprisingly, he notes, Benedict XVI has chosen the theme " Social Networks: portals of truth and faith; new spaces for evangelization " for the next World Day of Social Communications.

Hindutva activists of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) accuse the Child Development Centre of forced conversions. If it fails to provide a set of documents, the center will close. A few days earlier, a similar anti-Christian attack shocked the Indian state. President of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC): "A shameful police silence."

Today, anniversary of the Mahatma's birth, is International Day of Non-Violence. Fr Cedric Prakash, director of the Prashant Centre for Human Rights, gives his thoughts about the "growing religious intolerance" and the role of the media. He also looks at the upcoming Synod of Bishops (7-28 October) and the "desperate" need for a new evangelisation and a society based on Gandhian values.

The Pious Disciples of the Divine Master in Bandra (Mumbai) pray for their brothers and sisters in Syria, that they may enjoy lasting peace. Founded in the spirit of Saint Paul, who met Jesus on his way to Damascus, the congregation "holds Syria in a special place."

Karnataka has decided not to renew the lease of the Sumanahalli Society, depriving it of 45 acres. Operating in Bangalore since 1977, the centre is now left with five acres for more than 400 residents. The facility includes 50 building for lepers, HIV patients, disabled, orphans, street kids and young offenders. For the archbishop of Bangalore, this is a "betrayal of the [Christian] community by the government."

Two more incidents are recorded in Karnataka. Hindu extremists submit Pentecostal Christians to a 'purification' ceremony at a Hindu temple in order to force them to abjure their Christian faith. For the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), "these attacks are work of the Hindu party to win votes."

The denunciation comes from the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC). Under pressure from Hindu nationalists, a local administrator denies the status as a place of worship to a community hall legally built by a Christian community. Usually, the Tamil Nadu is known as an example of harmony and development among the Hindu, Christian and Muslim communities.

The president of the Bishops' Conference of India will be one of the three Asian members of the Synod of Bishops (7-28 October). Interviewed by AsiaNews, the cardinal underscores the contribution India and Asia can make to the universal Church in order to learn together how to respond to the faithful's new needs. The new evangelisation is important to bring God back into the centre of society, community, family and people.