the goan I network
PANAJI
In a press note, CBCI secretary general and Goan Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, said, “Catholic Church in India is very distressed and saddened by the happenings in Sogandi, Tamil Nadu, on Good Friday, a day very sacred to Christians everywhere.”
“A small community of Dalit Christians was not only not allowed to worship on Good Friday, but the sacred celebrations were forcefully and violently interrupted by the police led by the tehsildar and the most sacred moment of veneration of the Cross and the Holy Communion was disrupted by the police forces.”
“If the tehsildar had an issue, he could have waited at least till the celebrations were over and dealt with the matter with religious authorities concerned,” said Bishop.
“The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India expresses its full solidarity with the people of Sogandi and condemns in very strong terms the brutal action of the tehsildar.”
Insisting that the Catholic Church in India is proud of the country and its secular tradition, Bishop Mascarenhas also pointed out that members of the majority Hindu community have always treated the Catholic community with respect and goodwill.
“But in recent times, some fundamentalist forces are working to disturb the traditional peace and harmony of our country.”
“Many of our brothers and sisters from all religions have expressed their concern about the rising intolerance promoted by a few fundamentalist fringe elements. Incidents of intolerance are bringing a bad name to our country and to the long standing tradition of peace, harmony and tolerance in our country,” he said.
Bishop Mascarenhas has appealed to the prime minister, home minister and leaders cutting across party lines throughout the country, to ensure that every person in the country continues to feel safe and to enjoy the basic right to worship freely and without fear.
