Tamil Nadu dalit Christians to return to Hindu fold
Alleging discrimination in churches, about 185 Dalit Christian families in Tirunelveli district have decided to reconvert to Hinduism on the occasion of mahasivarathiri, on March 6 at Sri Nellaiappar Temple. Organised by the Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK), the reconversion ceremony will be held in the presence of about 25 pontiffs from both saivite and vaishnavite mutts. Says HMK state president Arjun ... [Apr. 3 2008]

Catholic Church facing shortage of nuns
The Catholic Church in India is facing an increasing shortage of aspirants to convent life, with girls preferring more worldly professions, church authorities feel. "Consumer culture seems to have overtaken the young girls who are no longer challenged by the call of ascetic life," says Father Paul Thelekat, Church spokesperson. Women congregations in the country are no more getting enough vo... [Apr. 3 2008]

TAMIL NADU – DRAVIDIAN-CHRISTIAN NEXUS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE!
Eraiyur is a small village in Villupuram District of Tamil Nadu. This village is dominated by the "Vanniyar" (Backward Class) community (around 20,000 people) and some 2000 Harijans (Scheduled Castes) are also living there. The Catholic Church has converted both the communities long time back and it has also established the "Our Lady of the Rosary" Parish, supposedly in the 17th Century. This parish comes ... [Apr. 2 2008]

Sacrificing Children on the Altar of Parents’ Fanatical Faith
“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.� Hebrews 11:17 This Easter Sunday, 11-year-old Kara Neumann of Weston, Wisconsin, died of diabetic ketoacidosis, a curable condition. While Kara was bedridden suffering waves of nausea and vomiting and excessive thirst and could not talk, her parents, Dale and Leilani Neumann, knelt in prayer and refused to seek medical treat... [Apr. 2 2008]

Towards Religious Harmony
Christian evangelists are on a roll in Sri Lanka. During the past few decades many reactionary Christian organisations originating in the west have swept into Sri Lanka with the single aim of converting all non-Christians to Christianity. Having arrived in a "third world" country, their reasoning is that all niceties and norms of decency can be dispensed with; evangelism is carried out through whatever mean... [Apr. 2 2008]

Iraqi Christians scorn West’s offer of help
The pledge by France to provide refuge for 500 Iraqi Christians is merely for ‘propaganda purposes’ and does nothing to alleviate Iraqi Christians’ suffering, said Iraqi church leaders. The leaders, refusing to be named, said their followers were paying for the West’s mistakes and blunders in dealing with the Muslim world. “It is the second time in history we are being persecuted and pa... [Apr. 1 2008]

Should taxpayers fund religious discrimination?
By David Barkey Special to the News The Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission will hear two proposed constitutional amendments tomorrow, either of which would threaten Floridians’ religious freedom and civil rights by fundamentally altering the relationship between church and state in Florida. With a two-thirds vote, the Commission has the authority to place constitutional proposals directly ... [Apr. 1 2008]

The Children of Palestine and Israel are Cannon Fodder for the Rapture
Safa Abu Saif, a 12-year-old Palestinian girl, was visiting a friend’s apartment when the bullet fired from an Israeli rifle slammed into her chest, punching a gaping exit wound in her back. No ambulance could reach her because of the fighting. Safa died in her father’s arms three hours after being shot. Danielle Shafi, a 5-year-old Israeli girl, was killed by the bullet fired from a Palestinian rifle ... [Mar. 25 2008]

`Missionaries denigrated religion, culture’
KANHANGAD: A seminar on the activities of the Basel Missionaries in Malabar and South Canara district of Karnataka, held here on Sunday, has thrown up some interesting aspects on their activities. The seminar `Mission and vision’ was organised by Vasudha, a cultural organisation. Dr. Albrecht Frenz, an indologist and grandson-in- law of Dr. Herman Gundert said the missionaries had denigrated the rel... [Mar. 18 2008]

Two Algerian churches shut for missionary work
Algerian authorities ordered the closure of two churches in the Algerian city of Tizi Ouzou last week for alleged missionary work, according to recent press reports. The latest closures are a part of an intensive campaign to uncover conversion efforts in many Algerian provinces, especially tribal areas, resulting in 10 churches receiving orders to close since November. Ministers of the two Protestant... [Mar. 18 2008]