Nirmala Carvalho

Search and rescue operations continue in the town of Morbi. The bridge had been closed for maintenance work and was reopened a few days ago. The Catholic Church is in the front line in providing aid. The local archbishop, Msgr. Thomas Macwan: "Even in this tragedy we will be witnesses of God's love through our apostolate of service".

Three Swedes were expelled after attending a religious meeting. They had allegedly violated the terms of their visas. They were also fined $500 each. Event organisers: they had authorisations. The three are said to have already returned home.

Some priests have come out against the apostolic administrator Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, appointed by Pope Francis last August. The “unified” liturgy remains the main bone of contention; adopted by the Syro-Malabar Synod, it has not been accepted by the local community. In April, the pontiff wrote to the archdiocese, saying: “We cannot create division. We cannot allow ourselves to be a source of scandal.”

Hindu nationalist groups accuse him of luring people to his church with money. “These accusations of conversion are fabricated,” said Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians. “The few Pentecostal Christians in Uttar Pradesh live in fear and insecurity” because Hindu extremists improperly use the anti-conversion law “as a tool of harassment”.

A hundred families housed for ten days in a government school have appealed for decent housing. NGOs mobilized together with local authorities for the emergency. Fr. Madan Singh who visited the displaced: "Close to their suffering."

The accused confessed to dismembering two female street vendors before burying them. The ritual was performed to bring money and prosperity. The victims may have been lured under the pretext of a fee for appearing in a pornographic film. The State Chief Minister: 'Only the mentally ill can commit such acts'.

In Bandra district, the Franciscan Missionary Poor Clares of the Blessed Sacrament celebrated half a century of their facility that takes in widows and single destitute women. "We treat every single elderly woman with tenderness and love and accept each one with her limitations and strength".

In Khandwa, Hindu extremists prevented a meeting promoted by the diocese claiming that tribal children were being taken “for religious conversion”. For the archbishop of Bhopal, “their forefathers were Christians” and “each faith has the freedom to teach to their own youth.”

Archbishop Card Anthony Poola of Hyderabad led celebrations at the Shrine of Periyanayagi Madha in Konankuppam, marking the bicentennial of its great belfry. He called on the faithful to pray “for peace in the world,” but also “in our families, in our villages,” and learn to be united.

The Forum of Religious for Justice and Peace held their National Convention in Hyderabad. They bemoan the fact that “The poor in India become poorer every day”, while “the rich and powerful continue to profiteer at their expense and amass scandalous amounts of wealth.” The Church and her own congregations are also urged to show greater courage.

The two are sisters and live in the village of Sirsanal. They were accused by another woman. India’s economic crisis and the upcoming elections in 2024 are polarising the country along religious lines with minorities targeted hate speech.

Appearing before India’s Supreme Court, a senior Indian government official cited ongoing protests in Iran over Mahsa Amini’s death as evidence that the hijab is “not essential”, that to protect India’s secularism, it should not be worn with school uniforms. Some 2,000 intellectuals sign a letter against the ban, which they deem “a hate crime”.