ICC Note:

A Special Consultation held by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has expressed concern over the recent rise of Christian persecution spreading across India. Mass re-conversion ceremonies, destruction of churches, and brutal assaults on Christians and pastors has shocked the CBCI and has led them to express their concern in a press statement. Will India’s government listen to their concern and secure the rights of minorities in India? 

2/2/2015 India (Two Circles) – Special Consultation held by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) in New Delhi has expressed concern over recent controversies in the name of religious reconversions and ‘shocking’ incidents of attacks on minorities, particularly churches and Christians.

CBCI said that the “untoward incidents” that happened in the past few months in various parts of our country have “wounded the sentiments” of the minority community especially the Christian community and has shaken the faith in the secular fabric of our Nation.

“The shocking incidents that have taken place against Churches, clergy and laity in Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi have caused great concern for the Christian community,” a press note released recently from the office of the CBCI said, adding, and “The recent controversies in the name of religious reconversions portray a negative image of India. Communal polarization and the bid to homogenize India are posing threat to all minorities – women, dalits, and all linguistic, cultural and religious minorities.”

The CBCI was attended by the four Cardinals of India, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Cardinal George Alencherry, Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, and CBCI President Cardinal Baselios Cleemis and other Office-Bearers, representatives of the Catholic Council of India (CCD), the Conference of Religious India (CRI), A11 India Catholic Union (AICU), Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM), Legal Experts, Human Rights and Social activists. This was followed by a Meeting with the leaders of other Christian Churches (I{CCI & EFI), based in Delhi.

Criticising the recent so called Ghar Wapsi incidents, the CBCI further said in its press note, “The Ghar Wapsi programs, the ‘saffronisation” of education and culture, and the demands for a Hindu Rashtra are again posing challenges to the secular ethos of our beloved country. “Saffronisation” is an intellectual threat to the coming generation.”

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