Catholic Church in India
The Latest
India’s Syro-Malabar Church reshuffles leadership amid liturgical row
The appointment, confirmed by Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil on Jan. 11, follows the First Session of the XXXIII Synod... Read more
St. Francis Xavier’s relics draw 12,000 in Goa, India, for decennial exposition
As many as 8 million people are expected to visit the relics during the 45-day period. The last exposition, in... Read more
Liturgical conflict resurfaces in troubled Indian Syro-Malabar archdiocese
This month’s delayed priestly ordination of eight deacons of the Ernakulam Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church has highlighted continuing divisions. Read more
Indian police hunt for Hindu man who allegedly disrespected St. Francis Xavier
Catholic news outlet UCA News reported that Subhash Velingkar publicly questioned the authenticity of the relics of St. Francis Xavier. Read more
Vatican approves India’s Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Health ahead of shrine’s feast day
Devotion to Our Lady of Good Health began in the late 16th century following three different oral accounts of the... Read more
Indian Christians see Hindu nationalist party’s failure to win majority as vote against Modi
“The big story of this election is that arrogant Prime Minister Modi has been cut to size by the people’s... Read more
Indian Supreme Court: Anti-conversion law may be ‘unconstitutional’
The court noted that “some parts [of the law] may seem to be violative of the fundamental right to religion... Read more
Pope Francis: The devil is threatening the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church with division
Pope Francis urged the faithful present at the Vatican’s Consistory Hall on Monday to “press forward” in obedience to the... Read more
Prayers, processions, and seminars mark first anniversary of bloodshed in Manipur, India
According to the government’s estimate, as many as 230 died in the bloody ethnic conflict that engulfed Manipur beginning on... Read more
Indian bishops condemn Hindu group’s attack on Catholic school and priest
On April 16 a mob of activists assaulted a priest and vandalized the Mother Teresa English Medium School in Telangana... Read more
Indian bishops’ ‘guidelines’ for Catholic schools elicit mixed reaction
The 13-page document issued to India’s 15,000 Catholic educational institutions includes a recommendation that schools display the preamble to the... Read more
Easter holiday is canceled then restored in heavily Christian Indian state
The March 28 reversal by the Manipur government came within 24 hours after Manipur Gov. Anusuiya Uikey canceled the Easter... Read more
Incidents of violence and persecution against Christians shoot up in India
Violence and persecution against minority Christians, who account for only 2.3% of India’s 1.41 billion people, have been on a... Read more
Despite Church warnings, tigers and elephants threaten lives in Kerala, India
The Catholic Church in Kerala has been leading the charge in urging the government to take decisive action to protect... Read more
Indian Church to observe ‘day of prayer and fasting’ amid growing religious polarization
The Catholic Church in India has called for observing March 22 as a “day of prayer and fasting for peace... Read more
Amid arrests of Indian priests and nun, bishop calls for ‘storming of heaven’
Eleven out of India’s 28 states have passed laws to criminalize forced conversions but, in practice, they have been used... Read more
Half a million Catholics in India petition government for better living conditions
Christians make up about 20% of the local population in Kerala, with the Christian community there tracing its ancient roots... Read more
Violence against Christians in India addressed at Catholic bishops’ conference
“The Church can play a crucial role in shaping the moral character of the society,” said Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the... Read more
New leader of Syro-Malabar Church faces daunting task as dissenting priests remain defiant
Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil has his work cut out for him as he seeks to carry out the Holy Father’s... Read more
New online database tracks attacks against Christians in real time
The “Violent Incidents Database,” launched by Global Christian Relief on Jan. 5, tracks attacks on Christians and people of faith... Read more
