Catholic Church in India - CathNews New Zealand

Church welcomes relaxation of hijab ban in Indian state

Ronan — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:51:01 +0000

Catholic officials have welcomed the southern Indian Karnataka state relaxing a ban on traditional hijab (head scarf) by allowing Muslim women to wear it while appearing for government recruitment exams.

"There was no need for any such ban, and we are happy that the present government has taken steps to relax it," said Father Faustine Lucas Lobo, spokesperson of Karnataka Catholic Bishops' Council.

The decision was taken on Oct. 22 at a review meeting attended by Karnataka state's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who goes by one name, and Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar, who are from the ruling Congress party.

Sudhakar told the media that students will "be allowed to write examinations wearing the hijab," referring to the competitive exams for jobs conducted by the state government.

Church welcomes relaxation of hijab ban in Indian state

Indian Catholic protesters burn effigies of cardinals

Ronan — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 06:53:38 +0000

A group of Catholics in the southern Indian state of Kerala burned effigies of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for the Oriental Churches, and Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the Eastern-rite Syro-Malabar Church, to protest their stand on the five-decade-old liturgy dispute.

The protesters also called for a total boycott of Cardinal Alencherry, even as church officials called for punitive action against those involved in burning the effigies. The media commission of the Kerala-based Syro-Malabar Church termed it as an open challenge to the Church and the pope.

Father Alex Onampally, secretary of the media commission, said in a March 17 statement that "actions would be taken against those involved in burning effigies of cardinals as per the provisions of the Canon Laws."

Indian Catholic protesters burn effigies of cardinals