Union Minister Releases Book on Dalit Plight
New Delhi (UCA News) A book highlighting the plight of dalits in the country was released in New Delhi yesterday. Penned by Ulahannan Thoppil, a lay catholic, ‘God's Own Untouchables’ was released by Federal Minister Kuruppasserry Varkey Thomas at a function in the Press Club of India. .....

European Parliamentarians Protest Koodankulam Plant
London (The Hindu)   Some British and European lawmakers have protested against the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant being situated in a tsunami-prone area in Tamil Nadu. Members of the British and European Parliament have signed a letter from South Asian anti-nuclear groups to Prime Mini.....

London Train Line now has its own Stations of the Cross
United Kingdom (UCA News) Something extraordinarily beautiful happened during Lent this year. An anonymous artist decided to create a special version of the Stations of the Cross for the London Underground. Called Stations of the King’s Cross, the project sought (and still seeks) to help travel.....

Pope: Caritas, Serving Those Most in Need
Vatican City (Vatican Radio)   During his Wednesday audience Pope Benedict XVI had a very special greeting for the President of Caritas Internationalis,Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez Maradiaga, and Members of the Executive Board and Representative Council of the global Catholic organisation. .....

Pope: Eastern Churches Embody "Spiritual Richness"
Rome (Vatican Radio) Pope Benedict XVI met with the final group of bishops from the United States coming to Rome on their ad limina visits. The 15 bishops were from the various Eastern Churches present in the United States. In his remarks, the Pope pointed out the Eastern Churches, “embo.....

Nun Made Member of Rajasthan Minorities Panel
(The Hindu) In a first perhaps in the whole of North India, the Rajasthan Government has nominated a Catholic nun as a member of the State Minority Commission. Sister Mariola Sequeira, of the order of the Mission Sisters of Ajmer (MSA), teaches English at Ajmer's prestigious Sophia College, b.....

Indian Exorcist's Funeral on Saturday
New Delhi (UCA News) The funeral of Fr Rufus Pereira, world renowned exorcist, will take place in Mumbai May 19. The service will be held at St. Andrew's School Grounds, Bandra, at 4 pm Saturday.  Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, will preside over the funeral Mass.....

President Asks Media to Highlight Social Issues
New Delhi: (UCA News)    The media should speak out more on social issues and create awareness on eradication of all kinds of social evils in society, says President Pratibha Devisingh Patil. Media is an integral part of a democratic set up, as it is not only a conveyor of news of i.....

Varghese Chakkalakal Appointed Bishop of Calicut
New Delhi (CBCI News) Bishop Varghese Chakkalakal, Bishop of Kannur,  has been appointed Bishop of Calicut. He has also been appointed the Apostolic Administrator “sede vacante” of the Diocese of Kannur. Bishop Chakkalakal was born on February 7, 1953 and hails from Malapallipuram, in the .....

Rome’s First March for Life Exceeds All Expectations
Vatican City (National Catholic Register) Rome’s inaugural March for Life May 13 “exceeded all expectations,” according to the event’s organizers. An estimated 15,000 people — made up of laity, clergy and religious from all over the world, representatives of other religions, Italian politi.....

Bishops Appoint New Spokesperson
New Delhi (UCA News)   The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has appointed Fr. Dominic D’Abreo as its public relations officer. The priest from Vasai diocese in Maharashtra replaces Divine Word Father Babu Joseph, who held the post for more than nine years.  Fr. D’.....

Northeast India Reaches Out to Myanmar
Guwahati (UCA News) As Myanmar emerges as a more democratic neighbor, civil societies in northeastern India came together with representatives from the once-isolated country to discuss ways the region could work together across borders. Drugs, arms, and human trafficking were identified as.....

Seminar on Participative Leadership Held
Dibrugarh (CBCI News) A seminar on “Good Governance, Law and Equal Discipleship for participative Leadership” was held for priests, sisters and brothers at Bishop’s House, Dibrugarh, April 7-8. There were 45 participants in the programme. Bro. Varghese Theckanath SG, director of Montfort Social.....