India

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Journalists gather at the courtyard of the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi on Oct. 17, 2023, ahead of India’s top court ruling on same-sex marriages and abortion rights.

Church in India celebrates two recent Supreme Court verdicts 

Oct 19, 2023

By Anto Akkara

The cases, involving abortion rights and gay marriage, came down within the same 24-hour period. Read more

Indian Cardinal Telesphore Toppo arrives for a meeting of pre-conclave on March 9, 2013, at the Vatican.

Pope Francis remembers Cardinal Toppo of India for ‘zeal for the spread of the Gospel’

Oct 6, 2023

By Joe Bukuras

Cardinal Telesphore Toppo was the “first and only cardinal of the tribal communities of Asia,” said Archbishop Andrews Thazhath. Read more

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the his supporters during a political event organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the GMIT College Grounds on March 25, 2023, in Davangere, India.

Indian priest who joined Hindu nationalist party relieved of duties by bishop  

Oct 4, 2023

By Anto Akkara

The priest’s action took place at a time of rising persecution of Christians in India. Read more

U.S. President Joe Biden and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi pay respect at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Raj Ghat on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi on Sept. 10, 2023.

India’s Modi government invites Christian rights watchdog to discuss concerns 

Sep 15, 2023

By Anto Akkara

The head of the Christian human rights group had written to the prime minister’s office about three major grievances. Read more

Christian refugees living among the brush since they were not allowed to return to their native villages after refusing to participate in a "reconversion ritual" in February 2009.

Journalist documents power of forgiveness on anniversary of Christian persecution in India

Sep 6, 2023

By Zoe Romanowsky

Anto Akkara held a recent screening of his sixth film about the killings of Christians in Kandhamal, India, in 2008. Read more

Goa, the former Portuguese colony on the west coast of India, was evangelized by St. Francis Xavier whose mortal remains are preserved in the Bom Jesus Cathedral (pictured).

Hindu nationalists demand arrest of Catholic priest in India for saying king was not a god

Aug 9, 2023

By Anto Akkara

Hindu groups had staged demonstrations in front of the police station calling for criminal charges to be brought against Father... Read more

Residents of Ngbam, Benue state, Nigeria, on April 8, 2023, the day after gunmen killed at least 43 people and injured another 40.

House chairman: State Department is giving religious freedom violators ‘a pass’

Jul 19, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

“I am concerned that the U.S. State Department is not using all the tools provided to hold guilty parties accountable,”... Read more

Sister Cyril Mooney, an Irish sister who changed education for impoverished children throughout India has died at age 86.

 Irish nun who changed education for India’s poorest children dies

Jun 28, 2023

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Winner of the prestigious Padma Shri award, Sister Cyril Mooney’s school model was adopted by the entire country of India. Read more

Pope Francis prays at his Wednesday audience in St. Peter’s Square on April 12, 2023.

Pope Francis prays for victims of train crash in India that killed 275 people

Jun 4, 2023

By Courtney Mares

“May our heavenly Father welcome the souls of the deceased into his kingdom,” the pope prayed. Read more

State officials walk past injured victims on hospital beds being treated for wounds following an attack by gunmen at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, southwest Nigeria, on June 5, 2022.

Human rights commission ‘outraged’ as State Department excludes Nigeria from watchlist

Dec 5, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

In Nigeria at least 60,000 Christians have been killed, many by their Muslim countrymen, over the past two decades. Read more

Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay speaks at a Vatican press conference, Oct. 22, 2015.

Indian cardinal denies cover-up to shield bishop charged with fathering a child

Aug 10, 2022

By CNA Staff

Cardinal Oswald Gracias denies allegations he attempted to arrange for a fake paternity test for a scandal-plagued bishop accused of... Read more

A statue of Devasahayam Pillai at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Kottar, India.

What you should know about this new Catholic saint from India

May 12, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Devasahayam Pillai will be canonized in St. Peter’s Square on May 15. Read more

Pope Francis addresses bishops of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church at the Vatican on Oct. 3, 2019.

Pope Francis asks opponents of Syro-Malabar uniform liturgy to take ‘painful step’ of accepting change

Apr 4, 2022

By CNA Staff

Protests against the change have included a hunger strike by priests and the burning of effigies of cardinals. Read more

Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church.

Catholic archdiocese deplores burning of cardinals’ effigies at Syro-Malabar uniform liturgy protest

Mar 18, 2022

By CNA Staff

‘The archdiocese completely condemns such unchristian protests,’ a spokesman said. Read more

Members of All India Muslim Students Federation protest against the hijab ban in educational institutions by the Karnataka government at Delhi University in New Delhi, India, Feb. 9, 2022.

Indian court bans all religious clothing amid dispute over hijabs

Feb 14, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

Amid widespread protests over a ban on hijabs in schools, an Indian court has temporarily prohibited all forms of religious... Read more

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay and President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India.

India’s Catholic bishops urged to highlight anti-Christian violence

Jan 24, 2022

By CNA Staff

A letter accused the bishops’ conference of ‘complete silence.’ Read more

An Indian Christian prays in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh.

Catholic priest in India will face trial for alleged hate speech

Jan 10, 2022

By Kate Olivera

A Catholic priest in India will face trial for allegations of hate speech during an interreligious meeting last year.  Read more

Missionaries of Charity house, Kolkata India.

In reversal, Missionaries of Charity in India again permitted to receive foreign donations

Jan 8, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

The Missionaries of Charity have been cleared to receive and use foreign funding in India, after the religious order founded... Read more

Missionaries of Charity house, Calcutta, India.

Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity seek swift fix after Indian government blocks foreign donations

Dec 28, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

Supporters of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity reacted with surprise and concern to the Indian government’s ruling that the organization... Read more

An Indian Christian prays in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, on Dec. 9, 2018.

Report finds rising anti-Christian violence in India

Dec 23, 2021

By CNA Staff

Christians were the targets of 305 violent incidents in nine months. Read more