u/apacheind1an

>Six Protestant Christians, four of them women, were jailed in India’s West Bengal state on suspicion of conversion, based on allegations by a group of Hindus who stormed and violently disrupted their prayer service at a private home on Aug.16.

I'm trying to find the silver-lining in these developments, but it doesn't look good.

The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) was originally enacted in 1976 (during Congress Party rule). The present statute dates from 2010.

The aggressive spate of recent foreign charity license cancellations, however, has noticeably accelerated under Narendra Modi's BJP government particularly after 2014, and 2020. Even more restrictions were placed in June 2026, and now the 2026 FCRA Amendment Bill is being debated in parliament (currently in committee).

The problem for us, guys: if the amendment passes, and Delhi deems a charity is acting in an anti-national interest, they can simply stop Church charities from receiving another dime from overseas donors.

And even more problematically: if a Church charity loses its FCRA status, the government can seize legal title to lawfully acquired church property the charity already owns.

To be just, this is not simply an anti-Christian bill. The FCRA applies to foreign-funded organisations regardless of religion. Non-Christian (Muslim, hostile political NGOs) have been hammered by FCRA enforcement.

What I don't get is how the FCRA agency assesses Compassion International, World Vision and Missionaries of Charity to be 'acting in an anti-national interest'! Restrictions were placed on Compassion International in 2017. It had to terminate Indian operations with almost 600 church partners, which served almost 150,000 kids.

The Missionaries of Charity's FCRA renewal was refused by the Modi government in December 2021 because of “adverse inputs” (???!!!) and World Vision India lost its FCRA registration in 2024.

The good news, Praise be to God: India is a Constitutional Democracy. The BJP is efficiently, systematically operating through democratic processes, which is almost uncanny in its resemblance to the NSDAPs political action leading up to 1933. It can be reversed if the political will can be mustered.

Please raise awareness of what is happening so that these measures don't hinder or impair the Church’s growth and Salvific Mission in India.

💖🙏🏽

Hi,

So, I (45M) met this girl (35F) on an Indian dating app. We liked each other and we almost immediately started chatting (t3xts and voice calls) on WhatsApp.

Her English was really good as she was in a tech background and we communicated very well. We had really good chemistry. Really, really good chemistry.

We really hit it off. I was even researching details to visit her (in Hyderabad). She was serious about marriage. She was born Catholic (Baptised) but was currently part of a Protestant congregation.

In fact, through the Holy Spirit, the first question I asked her on our first call was: "Do you pray?", to which she touchingly answered unashamed, unapologetically in the affirmative.

Why did I wait till 45 to start 'dating'? I had a three year relationship with a Catholic girl in college, but it was puppy-love stuff and I broke her heart when the relationship became inconvenient for me. I've confessed this and received Absolution.

Anyway, then I pursued my academic career and vocation and only got settled at 44. But, here's the dreaded 'but'. We were getting serious, and the conversation turned to some of the details of our faith.

In this very serious discussion I was very serious that it was non-negitiable that we be married Sacramentally in the Church. But in India, like in Canada there is a six-month waiting period after you register at the Parish.

Turns out this was the sticking point. She prevaricated and subsequently forcefully asked out loud, 'what does it even matter if you even married a Hindu boy, if he's from a good family'. I was shocked and speechless.

Turns out she was also being courted by said 'Hindu boy'. I took a breath, collected myself and stood my ground, and we said goodnight for the night.

But, that left a pretty bad taste in my mouth and I prayed hard for discernment. Using Ignatian Discernment, I couldn't escape that I was trying to excuse away the gravity of what had transpired simply because of my physical attraction to her - because spiritually - I recoiled at what she uttered so matter-of-factly.

What I had to do seemed pretty straightforward and clear to me. During our next chat I informed her during that I couldn't budge on this issue. She would simply have to wait six months for me. If she couldn't, well that was that.

She Subsequently informed me that couldn't wait. So, I gently ended it as amicably as I could. I told her I'd always pray for her (and I still do). I told her I wouldn't waste her time and she wouldn't hear from me. She was ok with that at the time.

But then, she tried to contact me repeatedly. And was miffed that I wasn't replying. I replied once to the same effect, and was firm on my boundaries. But, I didn't block her on WhatsApp.

Anyway, brethren, I am soliciting your counsel because I can't really talk to my sisters about this. Marrying a Catholic spouse was not an issue for them. One is married to an atheist/agnostic and the other to a non-practising Hindu.

Anyway, because I haven't blocked her I can see her WhatsApp updates. And I have been really thinking about her and thinking about re-establishing contact. I prayed deeply about it and I got the idea of asking your advice.

I am sorry if this isn't properly formatted or badly written. I am very grateful for your insight. Thank you very much. God bless you abundantly.