Nirmala Carvalho

What does the two-year journey set by the pontiff represent for the Eastern rite Church whose path already includes synods? For Fr Paul Thelakkat, the Church must free itself from clericalism and listen to the eparchies.

Hindu nationalist right-wing militants carry out the provocation at the Bairidevarkoppa Church. Police arrested the head of the Pentecostal community, who led the Sunday service.

Dioceses are tasked with the first phase of the path announced by the Pope. Card Gracias calls for “listening to those who have left the Church”. Philippine bishops write to the faithful and plan a national assembly next March. For Patriarch Pizzaballa, “More than making theoretical speeches, it is useful to listen and meet experiences, from which to learn.”

An anti-conversion law could come into force in the coming weeks. For the archbishop of Bangalore, the “conversion bogey” is whipping up “anti-religious feelings”. Instead, “Let the government take the count of the educational institutions and health centres run by the Christian missionaries.”

In a controversial ruling, the court is authorising an 18-year-old unwed woman to end her pregnancy after 26 weeks even though the foetus is healthy and represents no risks to her health. Instead of abortion, children should be given to the Missionaries of Charity, as Mother Teresa asked.

A mob of Hindu extremists dragged two Ursuline Franciscan nuns to a police station along with a group of Evangelical Christians who were praying at a private home. The religious sisters were released after six hours. For Christian leader, “In today's political climate in India, wearing a religious habit means being marked out as a target.”

Fr Joe D' Souza, pastor at the Church of St John the Evangelist, performs the deed every year. For him, ““animals break all religious barriers” and “helped many people cope with the lockdown during the pandemic.”

The Jesuit’s calvary began a year ago when he was jailed for defending the rights of marginalised people. He died last July after almost nine months of detention. Now in Karnataka nationalists are against St Aloysius College naming a campus park after him, threatening violent actions.

The St Catherine of Siena School and Orphanage in Bandra provided smartphones and meals to students from families most in need. Almost a fifth of teaching positions are not filled in India while many teachers are underqualified, says UNESCO report.

Sister Jessy Maria is one of 10 finalists for the Women’s Creativity in Rural Life Prize awarded by the Geneva-based WWSF. She has always worked with the weakest and with an eye to protecting the environment.

As India’s healthcare system concentrated on COVID-19, other diseases took the back seat a devastating impact on infant mortality, a FICCI report found. At least 51,000 lifesaving surgeries have cancelled. For Dr Carvalho, the system “needs to bring back the focus to these (non-COVID-19) patients.”

Police arrested Rev Charlie John on charges of forced conversion aggravated by monetary inducement. For the president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, the “persecution of minority Christians must stop.”