India Archives

Religious leaders in India gather to preach non-violence, world peace

Archbishop Felix Machado told an interfaith gathering in India on Aug. 13 that people need to have peace in their hearts if they are to seek to create peace in the world. “What is required is unity and truth.” In the wake of this week’s terrorist attack in Spain, Machado said religious leaders must “build peace while times are peaceful. Do not wait for tensions and conflicts.”

Why do Christians hesitate to rise up on anti-Christian persecution?

Analysis

August 18, 2017

In general, when communities experience hatred or persecution, enlightened people want them to speak out, knowing we need them to hold our feet to the fire. So why do some Christians hesitate to do precisely that about the global pattern of anti-Christian persecution, documented again this week in a new State Department report?

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
- Global Church
- August 9, 2017
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.
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Festival promotes reconciliation, fraternal love, and forgiveness in India
- Global Church
- August 8, 2017
Raksha Bandhan means “the bond of protection” in Hindi, and it traditionally celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. The festival involves the woman tying a special threadlike bracelet – called a rakhi – to the wrist of the man, symbolizing the obligation of the man to honor and protect the woman. In modern times, the festival celebrates any relationship between men and women which have the characteristics of a brother-sister bond.
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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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