Nirmala Carvalho

A village panchayat in Uttar Pradesh is said to have ordered the inhumane treatment over an extramarital affair. Police arrested 15 people in connection with the incident.

In Madhya Pradesh a misunderstanding during a school lesson is exploited by Hindutva group to attack school run by the Sisters of Sain t Elizabeth. Bishop Athikalam slams the shameful violence against women who have been serving the community for 50 years, “working towards nation-building.”

The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has revoked a rule in place since 1966 that prevented civil servants from being members of the RSS, a paramilitary group that promotes the Hindutva ideology. Originally, the ban also prevented membership in the Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist organisation, but the latter is not mentioned in the ban revocation. INC members speak out against the government’s decision.

For almost two months a priest, a Protestant bishop, and some principals have been in prison on charges of collecting exorbitant school fees. The increase was calculated on the first COVID-19 year, when prices had been reduced by order of local authorities. “We've done nothing in mala fide,” said Bishop Arasu speaking to AsiaNews. “We're willing even to approach the Supreme Court.”

Four were arrested Friday in a village following reports by the Hindu organisations Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang DalPer. Due to the presence of anti-conversion laws, Christians suffer continuous intimidation in India. Bishop Gerald Mathias of Lucknow: "Innocent people languish in prisons. It is unacceptable".

The Archbishop of Mumbai, who represents Asia in the Council of Cardinals wanted by Pope Francis, comments on the Instrumentum laboris in view of the October Assembly released these days. "We need to discuss how to give women their rightful role, involving them more in decision-making processes in the Church. Being inclusive, welcoming everyone, does not mean changing what the Gospel teaches."

Yesterday the prime minister received a delegation led by the president of the Bishops' Conference (Cbci). In the letter, besides the ritual congratulations for the new mandate, all the concerns for Christians from the attacks in Manipur to the quota issue. Among the topics also Pope Francis' visit to India.

The Supreme Court ordered the northeastern Indian state to decide within six weeks. Dara Singh was given life imprisonment for the murder of Australian pastor Graham Staines and his two sons aged 10 and six. In his petition he says he has "repented", but for Christian representatives, the court’s decision “is really disturbing” for the community.

Interethnic violence that broke out in May 2023 between Meitei and Kuki displaced more than 60,000 people. The Archdiocese of Imphal has started building housing for those who lost everything. For Vicar General Fr Varghese Velickakam, “IDPs are hard-working people, and with an intense desire to live in dignity and peace.” Catholic priests from all over India are also mobilising to raise funds for the project.

An evangelical community that prayed in a private home battered and detained after Hindu extremists accused them of 'forced conversions'. In the district of Jabalpur, an investigation into book prices inflated by a publisher sent to prison only the leaders of the most renowned Christian schools, including a Protestant bishop and a Catholic priest.

A 'temporary' agreement came into force yesterday on the Feast of St Thomas, which had been indicated as an ultimatum by the Major Archbishop. On Sundays and feast days, at least one liturgy must be celebrated according to the unified rite decided by the Synod. But it will also be allowed to maintain the mode in which the celebrant is facing the people throughout the rite, as requested by the clergy and laity of the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly

Many women and children among the victims. There were more than 10,000 at the event of Bhole Baba, a former policeman turned preacher who gathers large crowds. At the origin of the chaos was a sandstorm but - according to witnesses - also the behaviour of the cleric's security service. Lucknow Bishop Gerard Mathias: "I pray for the victims and that such tragedies will not be repeated".