Posts Tagged ‘India’

I did whatever I could to make society better

Thursday, September 12th, 2019
Sr. Lucy Kalappura

Franciscan Clarist Congregation, a 130-year-old indigenous congregation in India, a month ago dismissed Sr. Lucy Kalappura, a member, for violating the vows of poverty and obedience. It gave her 10 days to appeal to the Vatican against the order, which she did. Kalappura says she was being punished for using media outlets to obtain justice Read more

Catholic Church calls on Modi to lead ‘strong and inclusive India’

Thursday, May 30th, 2019

The Catholic Church says it wants to work with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in building a “New India”. “On behalf of the Catholic Church in India, and on my own behalf, I extend my heartiest congratulations to you and to the Bharatiya Janata Party on the emphatic election victory. “The people of India have given Read more

WhatsApp lynchings stir mobs

Monday, March 11th, 2019

The rise of social media is making it easier to stir up mobs. In India, where communal violence is common, the so-called ‘WhatsApp lynchings’ were responsible for more than two dozen deaths in 2018. Read more

Catholics celebrate resignation of corrupt bishop

Thursday, December 13th, 2018

Catholics in India are celebrating the resignation of a corrupt Catholic bishop. Pope Francis agreed to the resignation of the bishop who is facing allegations of stealing funds to maintain his “secret family.” Read more

Indian priest who led nuns’ protest may be disciplined by Church

Monday, November 26th, 2018

An Indian priest faces disciplinary action for supporting nuns’ struggle for justice for a colleague who claims she was raped by a bishop. Bishop Jacob Manathodath from Kerala has sought an explanation from Father Augustine Vattoly about his involvement in leading a protest against Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar. Read more

Former sex slave and a Catholic nun awarded helping destitute women

Thursday, November 8th, 2018
sex slave

Six years ago, at the age of 26, Laila Talo Khuder Alali was sold as a sex slave eight times to men of different nationalities by militants of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Standing in a hotel auditorium in India’s commercial hub of Mumbai to receive an award in the name of St. Read more

Priest who testified against bishop accused of rape found dead

Thursday, October 25th, 2018

A Catholic priest who testified against an Indian bishop accused of rape has been found dead. His family suspect foul play. However, local medical staff said he had a series of health problems. Father Kuriakose Kattuthara, 67, was found dead inside his room a week after Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar was granted bail by Read more

Catholic bishop: embezzler, married man and father

Monday, August 6th, 2018

Catholics in a south Indian diocese want their bishop removed for allegedly misappropriating diocesan funds to lead a luxurious life with his wife and son. Bishop Prasad Gallela of Cuddapah, however, has denied the charges as baseless and aimed at tarnishing his image. Aggrieved Catholics have filed a criminal complaint in a trial court in Read more

India wants to ban confessions to protect women

Monday, July 30th, 2018

Church leaders are resisting India’s National Commission for Women’s call to ban confessions. The women’s group says it has proposed the ban because information disclosed in confessions is being used to blackmail the women who confessed it. There should be a federal inquiry into into complaints of rape and sexual assault involving priests, the group Read more

Missionaries of Charity childcare homes scrutinised after baby sale

Thursday, July 19th, 2018

Childcare homes run by the Missionaries of Charity in India will be inspected after employees at one shelter were accused of selling babies for adoption. Sister Konsalia Balsa and social worker Anima Indwar were arrested after allegedly trying to sell a baby for UK£1,325 (about NZ$2,500). They have also been accused of having already sold Read more