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.
Pastoral initiatives are presented whose goal is to deepen the sense of belonging to the Catholic Church. More than 1,500 people, mostly young people, attend the meeting’s final Mass.
The archbishop of New York praised the great diversity of the Indian Catholic Church, speaking at the celebrations in honour of Aboon Geevarghese Mar Ivanios, founder of the rite and "Servant of God." Strong bonds of friendship have tied the Archdiocese of New York and the Syro-Malankara Church since the late forties.
The letters were left in temples where they work or delivered to staff. Another assistant received verbal threats: "Prepare to die." The police have been alerted, but the minorities live in fear.
The Diocese organised a meeting for economic and political migrants from Africa’s poorest areas and conflict zones. In order to meet their spiritual needs, large parts of the liturgy are in French. The pastoral care of migrants is "central to our Jubilee of Mercy".
Zakir Naik, a major Salafist advocate, is the founder of Peace TV and a well known TV preacher. His network has broadcast in Pakistan since 2009. Dhaka massacre investigators found a direct link between his sermons and one of the attackers.
The text is written by the Bangladesh Islamic Foundation and pronounced by the imams in the Bengali language. Of a total of about 600 thousand mosques in the country, almost 300 thousand have received the document. The authorities want to curb the spread of extremist ideas among young people. Three supporters of Dhaka terrorists arrested.
Francis spoke today about Jesus’s visit to two sisters, Martha and Mary, one of whom was “busy” and the other was “contemplative”. The right attitude belongs to those who "value the most important thing, i.e. the presence of the guest, Jesus." After the Marian prayer, the pope turned his thoughts to the Nice massacre. “May God, the good Father, welcome all the victims into his peace, support the wounded and comfort the families. May he dissolve every project of terror and death, so that no one dares to spill his brother's blood.” He also greeted “the great Chinese brothers and sisters” in the square.
Wilson Wazir Masih, a Christian, and Gormeet Singh, a Sikh, have become maliks, tribal elders. They represent some 30,000 people who can now legally press for their social, education, and health rights.
Solidarity with the French people hit "again" and with the victims' families. The pain of the Asian churches in a statement by Cardinal Gracias.
Police vets Prof Hasnat Karim’s involvement with Dhaka terrorists. Investigators seize several books praising jihad from the university library where he taught in 2012. Extremist ideas are spreading in some of the capital’s most prestigious schools.
Umar Mansoor died along with four other Islamic militants in a US drone attack in Afghanistan. The Taliban terrorist leader trained the attackers who killed 148 people, including 132 children, in December 2014. He also masterminded two other deadly attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
City’s 27 km Orange Line Metro Train project threatens 27 heritage sites, 11 of which are protected under federal law and six under provincial law. Four churches dating back to the mid-19th century would be affected, including the Cathedral Church of the Resurrection. For activist, “we [. . .] will not sit back and let anyone destroy this 2000-year-old city”.
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