Nirmala Carvalho

Statue was made for the first anniversary of the Pontiff's death by famous Tamil Nadu sculptor who says "the Pope saved my life three times".

John Paul II left an indelible mark thanks to his respect for India's multiculturalism and love for the young, says Mgr Gracias.

In view of the upcoming state election, Mgr Fernando, Archbishop of Madurai, has called on the community not to vote for those forces, like the Hindu Nationalist Party, that "want to spread ethnic-religious tension".

A national seminar on the social teaching of the Church took place in Mumbai. Mgr Crepaldi, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, told AsiaNews: "The social commitment of the Church means putting Christ at the centre of society".

Those who re-converted are Pentecostal. Sects are a problem for Catholics too because their activities, which are often reckless, have repercussions on the Church and its missionaries, who work for everyone irrespective of caste or religion and who become targets for violence, says bishop of Bareilly.

Thousands of people—Christians, Muslims and leftwing leaders—march in state capital to protest violence against Christians. We are Christians and we love our land, but we won't give up our right to defend the life God gave us, says bishop of Jaipur.

The judgment states that "those professing to a faith do not constitute a threat and cannot be excluded a priori from the list of applicants". Cardinal Vithayathil: "I am satisfied; it is recognition of the work of the church for human rights."

Mgr Filipe Neri Ferrao slams cross desecration and church burglaries in Goa calling on the authorities to do something. Council for Justice and Peace director says such acts are politically motivated.

"They are not Catholic," says Mgr Lewis, bishop of Jaipur, but "poor Tribal Pentecostals who are economically depend on the majority community for employment".

By approving this law, the government has set in motion a process that redresses minorities' old grievances in the field of education, says Father Joseph, spokesman for the Bishops' Conference of India.

The human rights report of the US State Department has denounced violence against religious minorities in India. Catholic activists welcomed the document and highlighted progress by the government, adding that the BJP is one of the main obstacles to a successful resolution of outstanding problems.

"Firm and unanimous" condemnation has poured in from India's largest Christian organizations and from the international political scene. A Kashmir separatist group has claimed responsibility for the attack and threatens: "There is more to come."