In 2008, Hindu extremists killed more than a hundred Christians because of the murder of a Hindu cleric by Maoists but blamed on Christians. Out of approximately 6,600 arrests, only 79 ended in a conviction. In 2020-2021 the local Church will host the Plenary Assembly of the Latin Synod so that it “will take the bishops to the places of the massacres.” For the archbishop, “it will be a moment of blessing for our people, to strengthen faith and courage.”
Civil society against Rajapaksa: saying that the 20 thousand missing have died is "insensitive"
by Melani Manel Perera | SRI LANKASunday of the Word at hospice for elderly nuns of the missionaries of the Immaculate Conception
by Benigna Menezes* | INDIAAfter teenager kills himself in a Raipur Catholic school, some try to blame the latter
by Nirmala Carvalho | INDIASpeaking about the Holocaust, the pontiff said that “In the face of such an enormous tragedy, indifference is not admissible and we must remember”. "Never Again" should be everyone’s prayer tomorrow. Francis also urged a prayer “for the people who have become ill because of the virus that has spread in China. May the Lord welcome the dead in his peace, comfort the families and support the great work already put in place by the Chinese community to fight the outbreak.”
On the first Sunday of the Word of God, Francis urged the faithful to make room in their daily life for the teaching of Jesus, who urges conversion. “‘Change your life’. Change your life, for a new way of living has begun. The time when you lived for yourself is over; now is the time for living with and for God, with and for others, with and for love.”
At the end of the 53rd Week of Prayer for Christian unity, Francis calls on the faithful “not to devote ourselves exclusively to our own communities, but to open ourselves to the good of all, to the universal gaze of God who took flesh in order to embrace the whole human race and who died and rose for the salvation of all.”
Francis met with Iraqi President Barham Salih. During the visit, discussions centred on “promoting stability and the reconstruction process, encouraging the path of dialogue” as well as “preserving the historical presence of Christians in the country, of which they are an integral part”.
In his “inner chatter", the jealous "is unable to see reality", and only “something really formidable” can open his eyes. “In the end it is a grace of God when the jealous person meets reality as Saul did: jealousy bursts like a soap bubble because jealousy and envy have no consistency”.
Fr Mintu L Palma, vicar at the Inter-diocesan Marriage Tribunal, authored the book. For one reader, the latter lays down "the pillars of a good married life: faithfulness, responsibility, honesty and patience". Card Patrick D’Rozario, head of the Church of Bangladesh, penned the preface. For the author, “rows between parents have a negative impact on children.” The book is meant “to help families”.
The song was a favourite of the Mahatma Gandhi, and has been always played to mark Republic Day. The cancellation of the tune drew criticism, not only from Christians.
Francis’ message is dedicated "to the theme of narration". God himself is both creator and narrator. "In fact, he pronounces his Word and things exist." "Even the Gospels are stories." The story of Jesus, then, shows how God took man to heart and that for Him "there are no insignificant or small human stories".
East Asia and Asian communities around the world are preparing for lunar New Year celebrations, which begin tomorrow. A new dangerous coronavirus outbreak is however complicating things. Other factors also bode ill for the festivities. In South Korea, many people are stressed out by the New Year. Considered the bearer of good luck for thousands of years, the rat has come to be regarded as a dangerous and disease-carrying fiend.
Puran Ram suffered discrimination since childhood, which made him feel dirty from birth. In Sanskrit, his name means "ancient legends and popular lore", but his classmates mocked him for it sounding like porn. One schoolmate left school "because he refused to study with me.” Others brought their own glasses to avoid drinking with him.
The Australian missionary and his 10- and 6-year-old sons were burnt alive as they slept in his car. The clergyman helped lepers, the poor, Dalits and tribal people. For the Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, the country urgently needs unity. The murders’ anniversary falls during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Intervention of religious leaders at the World Forum to "generate global awareness for change". The Oxfam report highlighted that wealth remains highly concentrated at the top of the distribution pyramid: the wealthiest 1%, in mid-2019, held more than double the net wealth owned by 6.9 billion people.
The victims contested the rebirth of a movement that defended the tribal land, even with violence. Some media reports that those killed are Christians; the local Church does not confirm. The "inexplicable" violence between two factions both fighting for survival.
Prabahath Gamage, 62, came close to losing his life as a child. He was healed by invoking the forgiveness of the Christian martyr, whom he had offended in a gesture he took lightly.
