Nirmala Carvalho

The beatification of Fr Augustinus Thevarparampil, "protector of Dalits", will be held tomorrow in Ramapuram in Kerala. The bishop of Palai told AsiaNews: "His life was an inspiration not only for the clergy but for all. He bettered the conditions of people in the most marginalized strata in our society."

The Doulos ship travels around the world with thousands of books about diverse subjects on board. Now it is in Chennai, and some Hindus who went have dismissed it as a mere "bible fair". Organisers and the Catholic community say the accusations are unfounded, motivated only by ideological fanaticism.

The organization, born in the United States, has worked in India for decades. Kevin Hartigan, director of the South Asia section of CRS, said: "We feel honoured and proud".

Jesuit Fr Cedric Prakash is satisfied the court order will limit intimidation by the authorities against human rights activists.

John Dayal, a well-known human rights activist, has written an open letter to the State governor, urging her to "use her legislative powers to reject the decree and to prevent it from becoming law".

Opposition leader Advani attacks missionary activities funded from abroad and carried out with 'inducements and coercion'. Catholic representatives reject charges as ridiculous and baseless, warning that they can lead to violence by young Hindu fanatics.

In several public meetings, former Deputy Prime Minister, Advani, said: "We have been crucified, and that too, on a Friday, but we were resurrected and that too on a Sunday." Dayal claimed this phrase offended the religious sentiments of Christians around the world, especially because it was voiced in Holy Week.

Speaking in the heart of the newly set up diocese of Jashpur, the BJP chairman launched an umpteenth attack against missionaries, "corrupters of the poor". The Indian Church countered: "It's easy to put the blame for all society's ills on a small, defenceless community."

In an interview with AsiaNews, the priest tells how he was taken into custody after celebrating mass and undergoing an interrogation. Saudi religious police knew of everyone's of his moves.

The new law orders the immediate arrest of anyone accused of forced conversion. Human rights groups have accused the state of Rajasthan of trying to draw people's attention away from their real problems: a lack of food, clothes and shelter.

The archbishop of Delhi and the president of the All India Catholic Union are concerned about the health of hunger striker Medha Paktar; they also urge the government to respect the poor, which is the single, most important moral test of a society.

Some 15,000 people attend the ceremony. Renewed evangelisation and service to the poor are the new bishop's priorities.