Former communist speaks to bishops

A former communist member of parliament has asked the Indian Catholic bishops to accept youth in their decision-making bodies as he addressed the prelates’ plenary in Guwahati.
Medical doctor Kurisinkal Sebastian Manoj, a former member of Indian Catholic Youth Movement, told some 160 Catholic bishops from across the country to “encourage and promote” youth in political [...]

Court helps Christians divorce faster

The Kerala High Court on Thursday struck down a “discriminatory” clause in the Indian Divorce Act, helping Christian couples to apply for divorce less than two years of their marriage.
The court struck down a section that said Christians can apply for divorce only two years after marriage. The court suggested reducing the waiting period to [...]

Prayers for murdered nun’s canonization

Catholics gathered for the 15th death anniversary of a nun murdered in Madhya Pradesh and prayed for her speedy canonization.
Some 700 people including Religious and laity gathered Thursday [Feb. 25] at the tomb of the Franciscan Clarist Sister Rani Maria Vattalil. The tomb is located at Indore diocese’s Udainagar village, where the nun worked.
The nun, [...]

Tamils go to shrine after 27 years

First time after 27 years, Catholics in Tamil Nadu can make pilgrimage this year to Anthoniyar church in Kachchatheevu during the shrine’s Feb. 27-28 feast.
The state and Central governments have given directions to Ramanathapuram Collector, the Coast Guard and other officials to escort Catholics to the fest, said a report in the Hindu new paper.
The [...]

No need for blasphemy law: Bishops

Indian bishops meeting in Guwahati have disagreed with Meghalaya state government’s reported move to enact an anti-blasphemy law in the state.
The Church disagrees with the move as the Indian Penal Code has provisions to punish those who “hurt the religious sentiments of people,” said the bishops, according to Church news agency Fides.
Meghalaya contemplated introducing a law [...]

Spain liberalizes abortion law

Spanish government made sweeping changes in its law governing abortions stressing women rights and making it liberal disregarding the Church’s opposition.
The new law allows abortion of pregnancies up to 14 weeks old without any restrictions and gives 16- and 17-year-olds the right to have abortions without parental consent.
A pregnancy of 14-22 week old can be [...]

Politicians can blur clergy: Bishop

Recent public support by the clergy for particular candidates could confuse the laity and sow division in the Church, senior bishops warn.
Backing a candidate could compromise a bishop’s judgment and his role as a “critical collaborator” with government, retired Bishop Francisco Claver told UCA News today [Feb. 26].
Archbishop Ramon Arguelles of Lipa and Bishop Vicente [...]

Abolish nuke arms: Japanese bishops

Bishops from Hiroshima and Nagasaki today [Feb. 26] called on world leaders to work towards the total abolition of nuclear weapons.
In an open letter to U.S. President Barack Obama and the Japanese Government, the bishops said it was time to take the “courageous step.”
“Nuclear weapons deprived over one hundred thousand people of their lives in [...]

Feudal lord’s sainthood work restarted

Japanese bishops have decided to re-initiate the process of beatification as a martyr of a Kirishitan Daimyo (Christian feudal lord) who was exiled to the Philippines by a Shogun in the 17th Century.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan (CBCJ) held a plenary assembly in Tokyo Feb. 15-19. Sixteen bishops, one diocesan administrator and four representatives [...]

Youths place faith in God, not clergy

Most Catholic youths in India have immense faith in God but not so much in Church leaders and elders, a survey suggests.
The youth commission of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) conducted the nationwide survey to formulate the Church’s national youth policy for the next ten years.
The survey results were presented at the CBCI’S [...]

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