Indian Catholic News launches to amplify official Church voice

By Indian Catholic News Content Team

Indian Catholic News has launched as a centralized platform for official Catholic Church communications in India, aiming to counter misinformation and provide a consistent, credible source of verified information.

Publicly launched on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, the platform publishes statements, circulars, pastoral messages and reports issued by recognized Church authorities, including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, Eastern Catholic synods, Caritas India and dioceses nationwide.

Founded by editor Ivan Fernandes, the initiative draws on his more than two decades of experience in international Church media.

“We do not produce original or investigative reporting,” Fernandes said. “Every news story is drawn solely from official press releases, statements, circulars, pastoral messages and reports issued by recognized Church authorities.”

The platform is intended to serve journalists, researchers, laypeople and Church personnel by making official Church communications accessible through a single, reliable source. Content is organized under categories including CBCI, CCBI, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara synods, Caritas India and dioceses, allowing users to quickly locate updates from specific Church bodies or regions.

Fernandes said the project addresses the absence of a centralized Church-run service dedicated to consolidating official Catholic communications in India.

“Currently, no centralized Church-run service exists to bring together the numerous but scattered official communications,” he said. “Indian Catholic News addresses this gap by offering an authentic and unified voice for the Indian Catholic Church.”

The initiative also encourages collaboration from dioceses, Church institutions and Catholic organizations, inviting communication officers to submit press releases, statements, circulars, pastoral documents and photographs for publication. Fernandes said dioceses are encouraged to use the platform to showcase their work and pastoral initiatives, helping readers better understand the life of the Church across India.

Fernandes, former editorial head at Union of Catholic Asian News and former managing editor of La Croix International, said the platform reflects his belief that the Catholic community in India needs “a positive, authentic and unified presence in the media.”

“I’m convinced this is important because it amplifies credible Church stands and addresses misinformation — particularly in the context of negative or inaccurate coverage on social and mainstream media,” he said.

Positioning itself as India’s equivalent of Vatican News, Indian Catholic News seeks to strengthen Church communication, improve transparency and foster greater understanding within the Church and wider society.