Nancy Sequeira calls for her son’s release. Randall is currently held in pre-trial detention for his involvement in protests against bauxite mining in Kantamal. A doctor who works with Adivasi communities, he is accused of inciting clashes that took place in April. The St. John’s Medical College in Bengaluru and Bishop Percival Fernandez have expressed their solidarity.
After they fled persecution in Myanmar, dozens of Rohingya families have now been evicted under pressure from Indian authorities, amid a climate of mounting hostility towards the presence of these Muslim refugees. Lacking any legal status recognised by New Delhi, many now face the risk of repatriation, even as the civil war in Myanmar continues to rage.
The Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue took part in a meeting in London organised jointly with leaders of the local Hindu community. Following in the footsteps of Cardinal Tauran, he visited the Neasden Temple in the north-west of the British capital. “Let us not give up when progress towards peace is slow.”
Father Benedict Barla, principal of St Michael Middle School in the Diocese of Khunti, was found in his office lying in a pool of blood. He has been rushed to Ranchi. Security camera footage shows three masked men entering the school premises. “We will wait for the administration and police to investigate. We do not want rumours to spread and create divisions in society,” said the vicar general.
The Japanese MMX mission is designed to bring samples from one of Mars’ moons back to Earth by 2031, the same year that materials collected on the moon by China’s Tianwen-3 mission are also expected to return. India and South Korea are investing in new technologies, infrastructure, and satellites. The commercial importance of space is growing.
Discontent with the institutions in India continues to grow following the arrests of leaders of the “cockroach” movement. According to Jesuit Father Sebasti L. Raj of the Indian Social Institute, the success of the mobilisation hinges on remaining independent of political parties and being open to different religious and cultural communities.
Another disturbing incident in the state of Chhattisgarh. A parish in an area inhabited by the Kodaku ethnic group has been forced to postpone the ordination ceremony because the authorities are demanding documents regarding the conversion of the deacon’s family, which took place in 1995. Meanwhile, signs have been put up outside churches restricting entry to Christians only.
On the day when the Church throughout the world celebrates World Mission Day for the 100th time, here is the testimony of one of the many Asian missionaries carrying out their apostolate on another continent. “I know how difficult it is to make Christ known here, but I have found various ways to communicate his merciful love.”
A week after the announcement, the Indian government has yet to utter a word about Navi Pillay, even though she openly embraces her Tamil identity and Hindu roots. Beyond the caution exercised due to relations with Israel, the sticking point primarily appears to be her assessments of human rights violations in Kashmir.
The Indian delegation, led by Father Joseph Thermadom, a deaf Catholic priest, shares its hopes. For him, we “must not let our Deaf brothers and sisters leave the Catholic Church because they did not understand.” The South Korean capital is home to the only church in Asia designed specifically for the deaf, a model to be emulated.
The High Court has quashed proceedings against four Christians from Amravati accused of attempting to ‘illegally convert’ a Hindu couple. The judges ruled that inviting others to join one’s own faith does not offend the religious feelings of others. This is an important ruling in a state where an anti-conversion law has been in force since August.
In a fresh outbreak of violence in West Bengal, which has returned to BJP rule, the annual retreat organised by the diocese and attended by 1,900 faithful was forcibly disrupted by a mob incited by extremists. Bishop Gomes said: “Such premeditated acts are becoming increasingly frequent. We can no longer remain silent.”
More than 7,000 people were taken into custody during protests organised by the Cockroach movement in protest against the Election Commission for arbitrarily deleting voters’ names. Leaders intercepted on their planes were immediately detained upon landing in New Delhi. A well-known Bollywood actor joined in to understand “why people’s voices are being suppressed”.
Subscribe to the newsletter to receive verified news, analysis and insights from Asian countries every week.
Subscribeto the newsletter
