Do celibate Catholic priests need a safety net? How different is safe sex from unsafe celibacy? A recent meeting of the Conference of Diocesan Priests of India, held in Bhopal, MP, occasioned these thoughts. The priests “pledged to safeguard their celibacy vow in the face of modern day challenges, and treat it as a gift…

The decision of Rev Bismarque Dias to stand for elections from the Cumbharjua constituency of the Goa Assembly, albeit as an Independent candidate, has set the cat among the pigeons, triggering a heated debate. Those against the priest’s decision have based their arguments on Canon Law, and those for him have referred to the rampant…

The great Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar, famously said, “Friends, Romans and countrymen, lend me an ear”. Now we have our Chief of Army Staff, Gen V.K. Singh, proclaiming in similar vein, “Judges, Indians and Media, lend me an year”; that is to say, extend my tenure by one year, by changing my date of birth…

There is a sharp polarisation of views on the Govt’s recent proposal to allow 51% of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail; depending on one’s political inclination, customer profile or business interests. Truth seems to be the casualty. To arrive at a balanced assessment some basic questions need to be asked. Why is the…

POPULATION WORLD INDIA All Catholics 989,366,000 14,908,000 Bishops, Priests & Religious (Personnel) -1,360,112 – 101,096 Lay Catholics 988,065,888 14,806,904 Personnel to Laity Ratio 1:726 1:146 This table shows that India’s Church Personnel to Laity Ratio is five times higher than the world’s. Let us now examine some other statistics from the directory, which unfortunately has…

Nine out of ten Christians in Bihar have disappeared! In Andhra Pradesh the population of Christians has decreased. The Population Growth Rate (PGR) of Christians in Goa and Kerala is a fraction of the national average. But Delhi has seen a phenomenal growth in the number of Christians. Don’t believe me, but believe the statistics…