The Diocese of Mangalore has issued a forceful condemnation of a series of attacks targeting the Christian community in various parts of India, including Karnataka, during the recent Christmas season. The diocese has called upon concerned governments to take immediate and appropriate measures to guarantee the safety and security of Christians.
Widespread Incidents of Harassment and Violence
In a strongly-worded statement, the diocese highlighted multiple disturbing incidents. Roy Castelino, the public relations officer for the diocese, described these events as "highly condemnable." Reports cited include an attack on a Christmas carol team in Palakkad, Kerala, by alleged extremist elements. In other locations, individuals selling Christmas merchandise faced obstruction and violence.
The statement also pointed to an incident in New Delhi, where activists affiliated with a Hindu organisation reportedly harassed a group of Christian women and children wearing Santa Claus caps, accusing them of proselytisation. Furthermore, in Bengaluru, Satyanistha Arya and his supporters are accused of disrupting a church programme and threatening a priest. The diocese asserts these actions are "against the spirit and values of the Constitution."
A Stark Contrast and Constitutional Concern
The diocese emphasised a stark dissonance between the Prime Minister's participation in Christmas prayers at a Delhi church and the simultaneous attempts by extremist forces to disrupt celebrations in various states. They noted reports of attacks, disturbances, and deliberate efforts to undermine the festive spirit in states including Kerala, New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Odisha.
These incidents have caused "deep pain" to the Christian community, which the statement says "lives with faith in constitutional values." The Diocese of Mangalore clarified that these attacks on Christian traditions are not isolated incidents against a single community, but rather "attacks on India's constitutional values themselves." The statement asserted that "threatening the freedom of worship is an unconstitutional act and strikes at the very foundations of democracy."
Udupi Diocese Echoes Calls for Protection
Echoing these concerns, the Catholic Diocese of Udupi has also voiced profound concern and dismay regarding the recent surge of attacks. The diocese stated that these incidents constitute a blatant violation of religious freedom, undermining the secular principles enshrined in the Constitution.
The Christmas festival, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, a figure synonymous with peace and love, was marred this year by a palpable sense of fear and unease within the community. Fr Denis D'Sa, public relations officer of the Udupi Diocese, stated that the Union government must issue unambiguous directives to all states, ensuring adequate security measures for the Christian community and its institutions.
The Udupi Catholic Diocese is calling upon all state governments to prioritise the protection of minority communities and to vigorously prosecute extremist groups engaging in unconstitutional activities. Both dioceses insist that immediate and decisive action is necessary to safeguard the religious freedom of all citizens and uphold the foundational values of India.
