Catholic Bishops' Conference of India Archives

Amid hardships, Christians in Pakistan and India mark 70 years of independence

From the beginning of their independence from Britain, both Pakistan and India have promised to respect the rights of religious minorities, and recognize the equal citizenship of the believers of all faiths. After 70 years, both countries have struggled to fulfill that promise, but Christians living on the subcontinent are proud of their contributions to their societies.

August 10 is a “black day” for Dalit Christians in India

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has designated that August 10 be observed as a “black day,” and called for demonstrations to be organized to show support and solidarity to those Christians and Muslims belonging to scheduled castes (also known as ‘untouchables’) who are being denied the rights given to Hindu Dalits.

Syro-Malankara bishop serving in U.S. named head of new eparchy in India

In July 2010, Pope Benedict XVI established the Elmont-based eparchy as an exarchate for the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in the United States. Now with the approval of Pope Francis, the synod of bishops of the Syro-Malankara Church has elected as the first bishop of the eparchy they set up in India, Bishop Thomas Eusebius Naickamparampil.

Indians carry ‘suffering and poor church’ to Asian Youth Day
- Global Church
- August 4, 2017
Bishop Henry D’Souza told participants of the 7th Asian Youth Day in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, “the greatest challenge before the youth in Asia is to kindle hope in millions in the region who look for a ray of hope to brighten their lives and make their struggles meaningful.”
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Bishops of India host meeting to combat threats to secularism
- Global Church
- July 18, 2017
Participants in a meeting hosted by the bishops of India said recent communal violence “threatened not just secularism, but the Constitution and the democratic fabric of the country.” They called upon the people to “seek strength from India’s deep spiritual reservoirs to end the increasing environment of hate, violence and disregard for the rule of law.”
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India archbishop warns about harassing Christians with anti-conversion accusations
- Global Church
- July 3, 2017
Indian archbishop Thomas Menamparampil says priests have been harassed, educators taking a group of children for picnic are being questioned, religious sisters taking a team of nurses for training are being held up by vigilantes who keep watch on every movement. The archbishop said more and more of the media is coming under control of what he called “cultural nationalists,” while the police have become more pliable to the will of Hindu militants, and it is feared the courts could follow.
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