CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCE OF INDIA

v 70,000 to Mark Youth Day Anniversary With Pope
ROME, Mar. 22, 2010, 15:35 Hrs (Zenit.org):
As World Youth Day turns 25, some 70,000 young people of the Diocese of Rome will celebrate the anniversary with Pope Benedict XVI. More...

v Mother Teresa Shows Families How to be Holy
NEW YORK, Mar. 22, 2010, 15:35 Hrs (Zenit.org):
Mother Teresa encouraged working with the poor not only in the slums of India, but primarily in our own families, says the author of a new book about the nun. More...

v Most Rev. Francis Kallarakal to be installed as Archbishop of Verapoly

COCHIN, Mar. 18, 2010, 09:30 Hrs (KCBC):
Archbishop-designate of Verapoly Dr. Francis Kallarakal, will be installed as Metropolitan Archbishop, April 11. Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo Archbishop of Ranchi will officiate at the function. To be held at the St. Albert‘s Higher Secondary School ground, Ernakulam. More...

v Christian Council Suggests Major Overhaul Of Bill Against Communal Violence
NEW DELHI, Mar. 17, 2010, 16:40 Hrs (AICC):
We applaud your government for its desire to protect the idea of India– a secular government with equality for all. We welcome the intention to pass a Bill on communal violence which will add to India’s strong body of laws. More...

v Trouble Over Tarnished Image Of Jesus
SECUNDERABAD, Andhra Pradesh, Mar. 17, 2010, 09:20 Hrs (Anthoniraj Thumma):
Last month, the display of a morphed image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on a hoarding in Jalandhar unleashed violent protests in Punjab. The same image published in a textbook by a Delhi-based publisher led to accusations of blasphemy in the northeastern Indian State of Meghalaya. The defacement of the image led to communal riots in Punjab and unrest in other places. More...

v Indian Bishop Bailed On Conversion Charge
SATNA, Madhya Pradesh, Mar. 17, 2010, 09:20 Hrs (UCAN):
Bishop and Church people, sought anticipatory bail after police booked them for violating Madhya Pradesh state’s law on religious conversion. More...

v What Is Salvation ?
GOA, Mar. 16, 2010, 12:50 Hrs (Averthanus L. D’Souza):
To most Catholics the word salvation has a negative and very individualist connotation. To them it means avoiding the possibility of ending up in hell. Salvation is a negative action and is usually couched in expressions such as salvation “from” . . . eternal damnation, eternal punishment, eternal suffering etc. Unfortunately our catechesis has reinforced this negative understanding of salvation. More...

v CBCI Objects to Justice Siddiqui’s Comments on Minorities
NEW DELHI, Mar. 16, 2010, 12:20 Hrs (Kuriala Chittattukalam sdb / CBCI News):
The Catholic Bishops Confernce of India (CBCI) Commission for Education and Culture has written to the Prime Minister, Education Minister and other authorities objecting to the recent interpretation of the nature of minority status by the Chairman of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI) Justice M.S.A. Siddiqui. More...

v Rally Held to Demand Reservation for Dalit Christians and Muslims
NEW DELHI, Mar. 16, 2010, 09:40 Hrs (G. Cosmon Arokiaraj / CBCI News):

National Council of Dalit Christians and All India Pasmantha Muslim Mahaj Jointly organised Parliament March and Dharna on Monday, 15 March 2010 at Jantar Mantar, from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. More than 15,000 people participated in the function. More...

v Archbishop Recalls Agony and Ecstasy of Hosting Bishops’ Meet

GUWAHATI, Assam, Mar. 12, 2010, 16:00 Hrs (SAR News):
Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil took time with SAR News correspondent Father C.M. Paul to recall the agony and ecstasy of hosting the Catholic hierarchy of India in Guwahati. More...

v Church Educates Women on State Schemes
Madhya Pradesh, Mar. 11, 2010, 14.00 Hrs (UCAN):
Marking International Women’s Day, the Church in Madhya Pradesh state has launched two initiatives to help women access government schemes and assert their rights. More...

v CRI lawyers Step in to Help Riot Victims
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, Mar. 11, 2010, 12.00 Hrs (UCAN):
The 54 members, all priests, brothers or nuns, have agreed to spend time in Kandhamal, the epicenter of violence, to provide legal help to victims. More...

v The Church's Commitment For Indian Women
NEW DELHI, Mar. 10, 2010, 16.00 Hrs (Nirmala Carvalho / AsiaNews):

On International Women's Day, the Bishop of Agra Recalls the continuing and widespread activity of the Church to ensure women’s dignity and tehir rightful place in society and the Church itself. Examples of Mother Teresa and St. Alphonsa. More...

v Dogmatizing Science - By Averthanus L. D’Souza
GOA, Mar. 10, 2010, 09.40 Hrs (Averthanus L. D’Souza):
It is a curious manifestation of the wooly-headed thinking of many pseudo scientists that they are almost paranoid about debunking the alleged dogmatism of philosophy while they themselves seek to enthrone “Science” as the ultimate arbiter of what is true and what is not. More...

v Sonia Gandhi At Don Bosco Museum, Shillong
MAWLAI, Shillong, Mar. 08, 2010, 15.30 Hrs (Joy Kachappilly / CBCI News):

Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, UPA visited and inaugurated Don Bosco Museum, Mawlai, Shillong on 5 March 2010 in the presence of Shri R. S. Mooshahary, Governor of Meghalaya, Dr D. D. Lapang, Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Shri Luizinho Faleiro, Congress Secretary in-charge of Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Sikkim, Shri Vincent Pala, Union Minister of State for Water Resources, and a host of dignitaries at a simple ceremony by cutting the ribbon and unveiling the plaque. More...

v "A Real Priority for the Clergy Both During Initial and Ongoing Formation"
ROME, Mar. 08, 2010, 15.30 Hrs (Zenit.org):
Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, the secretary for the Congregation for the Clergy, at the occasion study day on "Communication and the Mission of the Priesthood" held in November at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. More...

v New Church Fortnightly Seeks Lay Help
NEW DELHI, Mar. 08, 2010, 12.20 Hrs (CBCI News):

The first multi-color Church periodical launched by a group of media professionals last month gets encouraging response but needs lay collaboration, its editors said. Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of Pontifical Commission for Social Communications, released the pilot issue of the Feb. 12 in New Delhi. More...

v Christian entrepreneurs Forum, DIMENSIONS, Celebrate Anniversary
NEW DELHI, Mar. 08, 2010, 12.20 Hrs (Joby Mathew ssp):
DIMENSIONS- a forum of Christian entrepreneurs and businessmen –started four years ago, has consistently worked to bring together people of different Christian denominations and encouraged and supported them to do business within the community. More...

v Archbishops, Bishop, Priests, Nuns And Thousands Of People Are Arrested For Demanding Equal Rights For Dalit Christians
NEW DELHI, Mar. 05, 2010, 18.15 Hrs (G. Cosmon Arokiaraj / CBCI News):
Most Rev. A. M. Chinnappa, Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore, Most Rev. Peter Fernando, Archbishop of Madurai, Most Rev. A. Neethinathan, Bishop of Chinglepet were arrested. More...

v Pope Benedict XVI appointed Rev Dr Theodore Mascarenhas, Member of The Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses
NEW DELHI, Mar. 05, 2010, 10.15 Hrs (Nirmala Carvalho):
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Fr Theodore Mascarenhas, SFX, member of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses for a period of five years on 4th March. More...

v Final Statement of 29th CBCI General Body Meeting on “YOUTH FOR PEACE AND HARMONY”
NEW DELHI, Mar. 04, 2010, 12.00 Hrs (CBCI News):
Inspired by the Holy Spirit and keenly aware of the responsibility placed on us to shepherd the flock of Christ, we, 157 Catholic Bishops of India, met for the 29th General Body Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) at Don Bosco Institute, Guwahati from 24 February to 3 March 2010, to reflect on and pray over the theme ‘Youth for Peace and Harmony’. More...

v Mob Sought To Burn Alive Two Christian Families in Batala Church: Report
BATALA, Punjab, Mar. 04, 2010, 10.00 Hrs (SAR News):
The Punjab police are hiding the fact that hoodlums of rightwing Hindu groups in Batala tried to burn five Christians alive. More...