Nirmala Carvalho

The bishop of Vasai, who yesterday was appointed to the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious by Benedict XVI, talks to AsiaNews about the importance of the Pope’s Regensburg ‘lectio’ in which he laid down the bases for a true and fruitful dialogue between religions. This is especially fundamental in Asia where 95 per cent of the people are not Christian.

A report by All India Catholic Union, into anti Christian persecution gathered data with the aid of leading National groups. The report underlines widespread marginalisation of non Hindus, and government apathy which protects aggressors.

A group of RSS extremists attack and threaten two young Baptists in Bhiwani accusing them of forced conversions. John Dayal President of the All India Catholic Union warns: Hindu fundamentalists have orchestrated an out and out campaign against minorities with precise ideological and political ends. There has been an average of 4 cases a week since summer.

An interview with Fr. VM Thomas, Executive Director, Don Bosco Institute DBI, who has just returned from a conference focusing on the next generation promoted by the FABC, the priest analyses the continents main issues: unemployment, lack of access to education in a globalised world, the collapse of values, the need to affirm one’s identity. He invites the Church to rapidly intervene: we need to be Christ to today’s youth; only by encountering Him can their lives be filled with purpose.

In a press statement, the Communist Party claims that there are mysterious forces operating within the Church whipping up anti-Communist sentiments. The spokesman of the Syro-Malabar Synod tells AsiaNews that local Communists are going through an identity crisis. He calls for a sincere and prudent dialogue with them but without compromises with the Marxist ideology.

Members of the Communist Party yesterday attacked the storage centres of local small farmers, to convince them through violence to give in to their lands being requisitioned. The opposition declares the shit down of the entire State.

The Christian of Indian origins was detained for 7 months in Saudi Arabia’s prisons because of his faith. In an interview with AsiaNews he comments on the meeting yesterday in the Vatican: a positive step but now Riyadh must really commit itself to respecting religious freedom. Reflections on the persecution of Christian and all non Muslims, and a request for reciprocity.

A nation-wide campaign is being launched today to stop the central government from extending Scheduled Castes rights to Christian and Muslim Dalits, who have been hitherto excluded. For Hindu nationalists the move is essentially electoral but the Catholic Church warns that if India is to progress it must recognise that economic development and social oppression do not go together.

The head of the Central Administration of Tibet, in exile in India tells AsiaNews, adding: China constantly threatens consequences for those who meet with the Dalai Lama.

According to the Archbishop of Mumbai, appointed cardinal, the proposed bill on wombs to rent and in vitro fertilisation will legitimise an unacceptable practise both from the ethical and moral points of view. The number of official cases has doubled in less than three years.

The ‘untouchables’ began their march on October 2, Gandhi’s birthday, setting off from different parts of the country to meet in New Delhi. They want land redistribution and an end to marginalisation. Stopped by police, they are now going home.

The aggressors linked to Hindu extremists, accuse the sisters of converting the local population. Indore Diocese: “A pretext to justify their brutality, we will not tolerate this violation of democracy and religious freedom”.