Nirmala Carvalho

In the past three years, more than 6,000 children have died from malnutrition in Maharashtra, many from tribal families whose parents were victims of child marriages. A charity created by Fr Elenjimittamin in 1957 is playing a crucial role in providing education and welfare to such “angels in rags”.

Hindu nationalists target a shrine in the diocese of Guntur falsely claiming that a cross was erected at the site of a Hindu idol. However, local police refuted the assertion, noting that the Hindu site is on a different hillock. Following the incident, local Catholics held a peaceful protest, supported by people from other religions.

Just hours after promising Archbishop Machado to look into the matter closely, the governor signed the ordinance as demanded by the BJP Hindu nationalists. It is now the tenth Indian territory to criminalise conversion to another religion.

The Indian Church's joy for the former 18th century dignitary that Pope Francis will canonise on 15 May. Killed because he preached the fraternity of the Gospel beyond caste barriers. Syro-Malankara native Baselios Cleemis: "Witness in society of a message that no one can stop".

The chief minister called on the governor to sign the bill without the assent of the Legislative Council (upper house). If it becomes law, the bill would make Karnataka the tenth Indian state to adopt such an anti-Christian measure. For the archbishop of Bangalore, the law will be used by “fringe elements and groups” to sow discord. Hence, he urges “the Governor not to give assent to the bill”. Many Indian States have adopted legislation dear to Hindu nationalists.

Indian authorities uncover widespread corruption in Home Affairs Ministry involving NGOs forced to pay bribes to get licence to receive foreign funds. Thousands of NGOs have seen their licence expire waiting for renewal after new legislation came into effect. The case of the Sisters of Mother Teresa highlighted the situation last Christmas.

Hindu nationalists target a community in a village in Dakshina Kannada district. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu's High Court will also discuss the issue of "forced conversions". Local Catholics protest: "Suicide of a young girl exploited for political ends."

More than 400 delegates from every diocese met in Gujarat for the national conference of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement under the auspices of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India. Participants reiterated their commitment to social outreach on issues like the environment, the fight against poverty and addiction, and the prevention of communal tensions.

The new archbishop was installed last Friday, but his appointment is still rejected by some because he is not a Dalit. A local Dalit group organised a protest announcing that it was taking the case to the Indian government and India’s Supreme Court.

Clarence High School has become the target of a new anti-conversion campaign because it offers Bible classes to non-Christians. For Archbishop Machado, “Christian Institutions are once again being targeted” with false and misleading accusations.

Police arrested Fr Albert, 67, after a Dalit woman filed a complaint against him alleging improper behaviour towards her daughter. The day before, she had asked that her children be enrolled for free at a Church-run school. Bishop Kalist urges the faithful to pray. Fr Albert “is innocent,” he said, and this will be proven.

26 people were arrested in the Fatehpur district during a liturgy held by an evangelical community. The charge of "illegal conversions from Hinduism". The bishop of Lucknow Mgr Mathias to AsiaNews: "Hindu fundamentalists are increasingly encouraged to behave like vigilantes. One wonders where the religious freedom guaranteed by the Indian Constitution has gone".