CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCE OF INDIA

v Homosexual Acts are immoral and should not be licensed
NEW DELHI, July 03, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (CBCI News):
Government of India seems to be thinking of decriminalizing homosexuality by repealing section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. Criminal laws of a country defend the minimum morals of a society. Although decriminalizing homosexuality does not make it moral, people in general may think thereby that it as morally permissible. The government should not give the impression that homosexuality is licensed. More...

v National United Christian Forum Felicitate Christian MPs
NEW DELHI, July 03, 2009, 10.00 Hrs:
The National United Christian Forum organized a programme to felicitate the Christian Members of Parliament at Constitution Club, July 3. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Mumbai and Vice President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India said the Christian community is happy with the outcome of the elections and he wishes the newly elected parliamentarians to live according to the confidence and trust the people have bestowed on them. More...

v Archbishop Moras Greets Governor, Assures Prayers
NEW DELHI, July 03, 2009, 10.00 Hrs:
Archbishop Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, President of the Karnataka Region Bishops Council and Archbishop of Bangalore Archdiocese called upon Karnataka State Governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj. More...

v Public Meeting on SC Status to the Dalit Christians Postponed
NEW DELHI, July 03, 2009, 10.00 Hrs:
The proposed public meeting of Dalita Christava Mahasabha in Secunderabad scheduled for July 25, 2009, to press for the long pending demand of SC Status to the Dalit Christians has been postponed. It will be held during the winter session of Parliament, according to Fr Anthoniraj Thumma and Sri B. Danam IAS (Retd), Executive Secretaries, APFC.

v NISCORT trains Khandamal representatives
NEW DELHI, July 02, 2009, 18.30 Hrs (Fr. Jude Botelho / CBCI News):
Twelve persons from Khandamal, Orrisa participated in a one-month long video-Production course conducted by NISCORT. The course was aimed at helping to learn the skills and techniques of video production to facilitate video documentation process back home. More...

v Catholic Writer bags Sahithya Academy Award
BANGALORE, July 02, 2009, 18.30 Hrs:
Renowned Kannada – English Catholic Writer P.C.Anthony Swamy who contributes Articles under the pseudonym “Shree Swamy” has been honoured by the Karnataka Sahithya Academy , under the aegis of Govt of Karnataka. More...

v Humanist ‘Father’ Ferrer Dies; Andhra CM Recalls his Contribution to Uplift of Poor
HYDERABAD, July 02, 2009, 18.30 Hrs (SAR News):
A revered Spanish humanist and former Jesuit priest, Vicente Ferrer, who worked for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden in Andhra Pradesh, died at Anantapur district in the southern Indian state, June 19. He was 89. More...

v Varsity Refuses Renewal of Affiliations to Christian Colleges
THRISSUR, Kerala, July 02, 2009, 18.30 Hrs (SAR News):
Calicut University has decided not to renew its affiliation to four of the self-financing professional colleges run by the Catholic Church in Kerala state. More...

v Freedom First!
GUJARAT, July 01, 2009, 11.30 Hrs (Cedric Prakash sj):
June 26th, will always remain etched in the memory of most Indians, as the day on which, thirty four years ago, the country was robbed of her freedom, once again, through the introduction of Emergency Rule. More...

v Requiem Mass held for 'lost generation'
JAFFNA, Sri Lanka, July 01, 2009, 11.30 Hrs (UCAN):
Physically and mentally battered Tamils recently attended a requiem Mass for the thousands who died in the 25-year civil war in the country. "We have lost a generation," said Rajan Seemanpillai, 69, a mourner at Jaffna cathedral. Five of his family members died in the war and he says he cannot even see surviving family members who are now in distant refugee camps. More...

v Six priests held in solitary confinement in refugee camps
JAFFNA, Sri Lanka, July 01, 2009, 11.30 Hrs (Ranil Kumaratunga / AsiaNews):
Four priests of the diocese of Jaffna and 2 OMI missionaries who lived among the Tamil population until the last moments of the war. The conditions are on the verge of collapse and humanitarian organizations have their hands tied. More...

v Gandhi Wanted More for India: Cardinal Toppo
KKOTTONGNAE, South Korea, June 26, 2009, 14.30 Hrs (Zenit.org):
If Gandhi would have lived longer, India would not be facing some of the human rights abuses it still confronts, according to the president of the Indian episcopal conference. More...

v Moral Responsibility Is Key to Economic Recovery
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, June 26, 2009, 14.30 Hrs (Carl Anderson / Zenit.org):
Shortly after the fall of European communism two decades ago, then Czech President Vaclav Havel addressed his nation on the importance of individual responsibility within an economic system. More...

v Confessor Knew the Importance of the Basics
NEW YORK, June 26, 2009, 14.30 Hrs (Karna Swanson / Zenit.org):
After more than 2,000 years of existence, there isn't much the Church hasn't addressed, faced or witnessed. More...

v Sydney Youth Day Rocks On, Celebrations Mark 1st Anniversary
SYDNEY, Australia, June 26, 2009, 14.30 Hrs (Zenit.org):
One year after World Youth Day, Sydney is preparing to celebrate the anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI's encounter with young people through a whole month of celebrations. More...

v Pope: There's an Answer to Empty Confessionals
VATICAN CITY, June 26, 2009, 14.30 Hrs (Zenit.org):
Pope Benedict XVI is urging priests to not become resigned to empty confessionals, but to help people rediscover the beauty of the sacrament by deepening their understanding of the Eucharist. More...

v Indian priests follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, man’s liberator
MUMBAI, June 24, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (AsiaNews):
Here are some thoughts by Cardinal Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai and President of the Catholic Conference of Bishops’ of India (CCBI), on the Year of Priests announced by Pope Benedict XVI. More...

v Karnataka United Christians Forum for Human Rights
BANGALORE, June 24, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (Fr. Adolf Washington / CBCI News):
The churches in Karnataka, Bishops and leaders of various Christian denominations, came together under the banner of Karnataka United Christians Forum for Human Rights (KUCFHR) at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Bangalore June 19. More...

v Orissa Victims Outside Kandhamal District Struggle for Justice
HYDERABAD, June 19, 2009, 16.00 Hrs (AICC):
The All India Christian Council (AICC) signed an agreement with the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) to provide free legal intervention for victims of anti-Christian violence and to usher long-term solutions for inter-faith harmony in Gajapati District in India’s eastern state of Orissa. More...

v Pope's Letter on Year for Priests
VATICAN CITY, June 19, 2009, 16.00 Hrs:
The president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue is reporting that an unprecedented Catholic-Hindu meeting in India has opened a new chapter in relations between the two faiths. More...

v Cardinal Hails Success of Catholic-Hindu Meeting
MUMBAI, June 19, 2009, 14.00 Hrs (Zenit.org):
The president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue is reporting that an unprecedented Catholic-Hindu meeting in India has opened a new chapter in relations between the two faiths. More...

v The Battle Is Now Joined
By Averthanus L. D’Souza
NEW DELHI, June 19, 2009, 14.00 Hrs (Averthanus L. D’Souza):
Viewing the current geo-political developments from an aeonic perspective one is intrigued to discover that man’s violent attempts to subdue other men and his constant ‘wars’ with his neighbours has undergone an evolutionary development parallel to his biological evolution. More...

v "Fighting Nun" Publishes New Book on Wartime Pontiff
By Edward Pentin
ROME, June 19, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (Zenit.org):
She may be 87, but Sister Margherita Marchione isn't even close to retiring. The indomitable sister of the Religious Teachers Filippini, and ardent defender of Pius XII, has just published a new book on the wartime Pontiff which she launched in Rome last month. Called "Pope Pius XII -- An Anthology on the 70th Anniversary of Coronation," the work is just one of over 60 she has written. More...

v Getting the "Little Picture"
NEW DELHI, June 19, 2009, 10.00 Hrs:
When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was proclaimed Pope, I vividly remember the joy of a priest friend standing next to me in St. Peter's Square. "Cardinal Ratzinger," he said, "was a "priest's cardinal.'" It struck me then as an interesting insight, which now appears to be spot on. More...

v Brazil Mourns Priest Slain in Robbery
BRASILIA, Brazil, June 19, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (Zenit.org):
Stigmatine Missionary Father Gisley Azevedo Gomes died a victim of the violence he was dedicated to fighting, according to the national youth ministry program in which he worked. More...

v Catholic Colleges Are Lost; Schools Need Direction, Guidelines: Newman Society
MANASSAS, Virginia, June 19, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (Zenit.org):
Many Catholic universities are lost and are in need of specific policies to help them go in the right direction, says the Cardinal Newman Society. More...

v Boy From Fatima Apparitions Seen as Example of Obedience
FATIMA, Portugal, June 19, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (Zenit.org):
Francisco Marto, one of the child visionaries from Fatima, is a great role model for kids today, particularly in five of his outstanding virtues, according to an expert on his life. More...

v Pope Highlights Virtues of Curé d'Ars, Calls Priests to Renew Evangelical Counsels
VATICAN CITY, June 19, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (Zenit.org):
Pope Benedict XVI is encouraging priests to live the evangelical counsels following St. John Mary Vianney's example, and is urging them to help lay people live these virtues as well. More...

v Health Care Dicastery Prepares Its 25th Birthday
VATICAN CITY, June 19, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (Zenit.org):
The president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry says he remembers hearing personally from John Paul II that one of the Pope's only memories of his mother was her suffering. More...

v Strategies to Reduce World Hunger
VATICAN CITY, June 18, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (VIS):
Pope Benedict XVI recalled how from 24 to 26 June a "United Nations conference will be held in New York on the economic and financial crisis and its impact on development". More...

v CPM Condescends, Says Ready For Dialogue With Church
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Kerala, June 18, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (SAR News):
Call it the post-poll effect. After a humiliating defeat in the recently held parliamentary elections, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) has finally agreed to iron out differences with the influential Church in Kerala, through dialogue. More...

v USCIRF Regrets Absence of Visas for Visit to India
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 18, 2009, 10.00 Hrs:
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) regrets that visas have not been issued by the Indian government for a USCIRF visit to discuss religious freedom conditions with officials, religious leaders, civil society activists and others in the world’s largest democracy. More...

v Representation of Minorities in the Elected Bodies (Part - 1)
NEW DELHI, June 12, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (Fr. Anand Muttungal):
The twenty percentage population of the country, namely major minority communities are not sufficiently represented in the decision making elected bodies in the country. The UPA Government found out through a survey that there are 69 districts in the country which are dominated by the minorities. More...

v Santhome Summer Course on Media Ends
CHENNAI, June 12, 2009, 10.00 Hrs (Magimai Pragasam / Media News):
The week long Communication course of Santhome Communications Centre ended successfully on 29th evening with Auxiliary Bishop of Madras-Mylapore, Rev.Dr. Lawrence Pius presenting the certificates to 21 religious sisters who came from the regions of Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Karnataka. More...

CBCI News Archives:
v Kerala Bishops Condemn Attacks On Christian Institutions
v Kerala Catholic priest declared Servant of God
v Mother Petra On Road To Sainthood
v Prelate Calls for Christ-Centered Catholic Schools
v Charge Sheet Filed Against Seven In Orissa Nun Rape Case

More...