The arrests took place in the District of Dumka. The detainees are part of a group of 25 "preachers" that the villagers held hostage for two days. The police say they seized religious material. For Christian leader, “powerful groups that support Hindutva use the so-called forced conversions to intimidate minorities".
The event is promoted by the Conference of Catholic bishops. 25 prelates participated. Card. Oswald Gracias recites a prayer of consecration of the mission of the Church in India to the Virgin Mary. Like St. Thomas, "discovering Jesus touching his wounds: The poor, abandoned, elderly, dalit".
Sister Kaushalya, head of the Nirmal Hriday orphanage, is accused of buying and selling children as slaves. Another nun is under investigation. At least 16 girls were moved to a state facility. Missionaries of Charity react saying, “We will take all necessary precautions so that it never happens again."
The superior of the Missionaries of Charity affirms that the sale of minors "goes against our moral convictions". An employee and two nuns from the hospital that cares for single mothers have been arrested. A newborn sold to a couple of Uttar Pradesh for about € 1,490.
The Mumbai doctor is in Rome for the meeting of the Pontifical Academy for Life. With respect to global responsibility, "Asking now poorer nations not to develop in the name of global warming and greenhouse gases is not fair”. The Diocesan Human Life Committee in Mumbai seeks to raise “the conscience level of youths to be heralds and prolife witnesses."
The Rev. Dependra Prakash Maleywar was sentenced to 14 days in prison. Hindu extremists accused him of aggression. The pastor had to deliver documents proving that conversions are the result of free choice to the court.
Sexual violence was perpetrated against five NGO activists of the Ursuline nuns. The parish priest of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Kochang is accused of aiding and abetting. The women had participated in a program against trafficking in human beings.
Today is the fourth World Day of Yoga. A special event in the English House of Lords. Fr. Joe Pereira has been practicing meditation for 50 years and applies the discipline in his Kripa foundation. "Meditation and yoga have the power to help us get in touch with our true inner self".
Fr George Muttathuparambil is the Salesian provincial superior in Bangalore, Karnataka. In 2016 he was in Yemen when an Islamist group took Fr Tom Uzhunnalil, killing four sisters of Mother Teresa. “This is an unjust war,” he says. “Innocent people are suffering horribly.”
The complaint started with the father of a young tribal ethnic Sarna who wanted to marry a Christian. The girl, the future husband and two Christians allegedly tried convert even the elderly father. The anti-conversion law provides for severe penalties for those who force the conversion of minors and tribals.
Nilotpal Das and Abhijeet Nath were suspected of kidnapping children. Authorities ask 70 other people to delete fake news and fake videos from mobile phones and social media profiles. In the last month, at least seven people have been assaulted across India on unfounded charges.
Next week, classes start again. The Church runs 507 schools in the Indian state. In recent months, Hindu radicals have attacked some schools. The attacks have caused "disturbance in the young minds" of the pupils. Catholic schools welcome students of every religion and social group. For a local priest, "They are all our children."
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