NEW DELHI (UCAN): The sticky issue of the washing of the feet of women at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday has raised its head again, this time in the Syro-Malabar Church in India.

George Cardinal Alencherry, the major archbishop of the Church,  said in a directive that the decision of its synod is to continue with its tradition of washing only the feet of 12 men or boys.

KOCHI (UCAN): An elaborate set of guidelines issued by Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil, from the Syro Malabar Church tradition in India, has caused controversy over a section that says men should marry before the age of 25 and women before 23.

It also says that extravagant marriage ceremonies should be avoided and bans bridesmaids and flower girls.

BANSWARA (AsiaNews): A group from Ss. Peter and Paul parish in the village of Tikariya, near the city of Banswara in India, was savagely beaten and accused of carrying out forced conversions  as a result of carol singing sessions held in private homes on December 14.

Father Stephen Rawat said, “I have no enemies, I was beaten because of my Christian faith.”

NEW DELHI (UCAN): India has initiated a process to establish a uniform personal code to replace its religion-based family law system, but the leaders of various religious bodies, including Christian Churches, are baulking at the suggestion.

The Law Commission of India has published a notice seeking public opinion on the issue.

It is asking all concerned groups to engage with the commission by responding to a questionnaire.

KOCHI (UCAN): Former Catholic priests in the southern Indian state of Kerala have launched a Rent a Priest service which aims at filling the gap for people who do not want to go to their parishes.

People who can’t stand their parish priests can hire a former priest through the service who is listed under an association called Catholic Priests, Ex-Priest and Nuns Association.

Former priests in this association provide sacramental services.

DHAKA (UCAN): Despite repeated promises by the government in India not to shoot people wandering into the country from across the border with Bangladesh, some 28 have been shot dead so far this year by the Indian Border Security Force, Ain-O-Salish Kendra, a Dhaka-based rights group, reported on September 28.

Over the last three years the casualties have numbered 26, 33 and 46.

DEHLI (UCAN): Some 4,000 domestic workers in New Delhi went on strike on August 16 to demand that the federal government formulate a law to ensure fair wages and security for them.

The domestic workers, registered under the Domestic Workers’ Forum of Chetnalaya, the social service wing of the archdiocese of Delhi, took to the streets to observe No Rights, No Work Day.

COCHIN (CNS): “Today the Church is no more the Church of the poor, but one can even say it is the church of institutions,” said Presentation Sister Shalini Mulackal, president of Indian Theological Association on April 20.