[Civil and human rights activist and Jesuit Priest Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ reflects on The World Day of the Poor] Hard facts About a month ago, on 15 October, the 2024 Global Hunger Index was released. India ranks 105 out of 127 countries;with a score of 27.3, India has a level of hunger that is serious. On […]
Italy has passed one of the strictest laws against international surrogacy in the Western world. The new legislation, which critics argue primarily targets same-sex couples, criminalises Italians who seek surrogacy services abroad. Those found guilty face severe penalties, including jail time and hefty fines. This move by Italy’s government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, […]
Ah, the Paris Olympics! A global stage for athletic prowess, unity, and…drag queens apparently causing a ruckus with the Christian right. The opening ceremony, with its dazzling spectacle of colour and dance, has been accused of mocking Christianity. But let’s unpack this alleged blasphemy, shall we? During the ceremony, a woman in a shimmering, halo-like […]
As we get closer to the special Jubilee Year in 2025, a group of Christian and Muslim leaders from across Africa are making a big noise about debt. They say that African countries are struggling to pay back what they owe, and this is stopping them from helping their people. A Plea for ChangeThese religious […]
Pope Francis’ Leadership: Strength in Openness Over the past decade, Pope Francis has garnered both admiration and criticism for his open, candid, and gentle approach. Some view these traits as weaknesses that emboldened opponent factions within the Church. Recent actions suggest a different interpretation. The excommunication of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò leaves no doubt of […]
Vatican Takes Unprecedented Step In a rare and severe move, the Vatican has excommunicated Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, one of Pope Francis’s harshest critics. This action comes after Viganò repeatedly refused to recognize Pope Francis’s authority and criticized the liberal reforms of the Catholic Church since the 1960s. Background on Archbishop Viganò Archbishop Viganò, a […]
Earlier this week, on 28 May, Pope Francis apologized after being accused of using a highly offensive slur to refer to gay men during a private session with bishops. Unexpected Words from a Bridge-Builder The pope’s choice of words, reported by major Italian news outlets and confirmed to The Washington Post by a senior Vatican […]
ROME — Claims of weeping statues, apparitions of divine personages of all orders, and miraculous bread are less likely to be accepted as ‘miracles’ by the Catholic Church. The Vatican has introduced new guidelines on unexplained religious phenomena, significantly altering the way the Roman Catholic Church addresses claims of supernatural events, such as weeping statues […]
Suppose the Indian elections are scheduled for Ash Wednesday 14th October, what would the Church in India do? This story comes from Indonesia. In a unique move reflective of the diverse challenges faced by religious communities globally, Catholic bishops in Indonesia are making a temporary liturgical adjustment as the country prepares for its presidential election. […]
Ash Wednesday falls on February 14 this year. In preparation for the upcoming Lenten season, Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, the Chaldean Patriarch, has called on Iraq’s Christians to observe the traditional Nineveh Fast with a special intention this year. The Nineveh Fast, a three-day discipline observed in the Syriac tradition, is a time for believers […]
As the Christmas season wraps the world in a spirit of joy, love, and hope, Christians in India reflect on their profound contributions to the nation while facing continuous challenges and attacks under the ruling regime. Amidst the festivities, it’s evident that the Christian community has played a significant role in India’s history. From the […]
The Bombay High Court announced a recent and important decision that highlights the issues of caste-based policy in a diverse and multi-religious society. The issue focused on a denial of a scheduled caste certificate to a 17-year-old girl because of picture of Jesus in her house. Authorities refused her certificate because she had a portrait […]
