Nirmala Carvalho

The Hindu nationalist candidate defeated the left-wing candidate in local elections in a town at the centre of a dispute over ownership of 400 acres of land pitting the Waqf against some 500 Christian families. Modi's party also won in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram, for the first time, although Indian National Congress came out on top in the southern Indian state.

In India, prejudices about skin color, closely linked to the caste system, are still widespread. But a couple from Madhya Pradesh who ended up in the crosshairs of haters after posting pictures of their wedding is offering an original response, starting with their own story. It is a countercultural message in a society where everything from Ayurveda to Bollywood films still suggests that skin must be light.

The CBCI has filed an appeal pointing out that the legislation grants arbitrary powers to the authorities, vaguely defines the modalities of unlawful conversion and obliges citizens to reveal their personal faith choices to the state. The Supreme Court has asked the Rajasthan government to submit its response. The case could also have national implications.

SRM University in Chennai fired Lora Santhakumar for posting comments on her WhatsApp status critical of Operation Sindoor. First suspended on 8 May, she was fired a few days ago. Over this period, she was the target of online attacks and death threats from far-right groups.

The Allahabad High Court has ordered the Indian state to revoke the benefit within four months. Addressing the case of a Christian, the judges ruled that maintaining the status would be ‘fraud against the Constitution’. Bishop of Berhampur: but the social and economic backwardness of Dalits persists even after conversion.

The Indian government has denied a visa to evangelical preacher Franklin Graham, son of the well-known Billy Graham, who was expected to attend an event in Kohima on 30 November. The decision has provoked harsh reactions in Nagaland, where the Naga Students' Federation denounces a ‘selective and discriminatory’ policy, especially after the relaxation of special permits for visitors who want to participate in certain cultural festivals.

On World AIDS Day, which falls each year on 1 December, the story Rev Reji Thomas, a Kerala native, highlights the plight of HIV-positive Indian children who are often abandoned by their own relatives due to social stigma. Today, his Bless Foundation, founded in 2009, cares for 28 minors, who not only found a refuge, but also the opportunity for treatment and education.

For the local elections on 9 and 11 December, the party led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has presented an unprecedented number of Christian candidates. The Syro-Malabar Church, after a meeting with the prime minister, has invited the faithful to collaborate in the electoral review, signalling a possible rapprochement.

Indian authorities have blocked the “Tales of Kamasutra & Christmas Celebration” event after a wave of criticism from the Catholic Church and women's rights groups. The initiative, accused of offending religious sentiments, was removed by order of the police, who have opened an investigation against the organisers. Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao condemned the incident, calling for the protection of interreligious respect and shared community values.

Fr Susai Jesu, a missionary with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, was called by Leo XIV to lead the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas. Since 2007, he has lived his ministry among First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people, participating in the journey of reconciliation that culminated in the meeting with Pope Francis at Lac Ste. Anne in 2022. “God chooses the weak to make them strong in faith and love,” said the new prelate in his first comment after he learnt of his appointment.

In communion with Churches around the world, the event was promoted by the Norbertine-run centre that offers dignity and new opportunities through self-help groups to women living in disadvantaged areas. For its director, Father Moses, “Empowerment is not a gift; it is the fundamental right to agency, and our role is simply to clear the path.”

A car bomb that exploded yesterday near the historic Red Fort, a symbol of Indian independence, killed 13 people and wounded more than 20. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, but authorities suspect a jihadi attack linked to Kashmir, following the discovery of three tonnes of explosives in Faridabad. However, "all angles" remain open, according to federal Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah. “Let us continue to pray for peace and safety across our beloved nation,” reads a statement by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India.