Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

Udupi : Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh condemns desecrating Holy Cross in guise of protest, said Alwyn Quadros, President of Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh, Udupi diocese.

Speaking to Press Conference at Udupi Press Club here on Tuesday, September 24, Alwyn Quadros said that news has been making rounds since a few days that a Hindu brethren, hailing from near Udyavar, here was forcibly converted to Christianity by Divine Retreat Centre, Mulki in Mangaluru Taluk. At this backdrop, Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh clarifies that the protest call given by Hindu religious outfits in this regard has indeed hurt the sentiment of peace loving Christians.

Christian community has been serving contributing in healthcare, education and socio-economic spheres in the country since hundreds of years. It co-exists peacefully with multi-religious and multi-cultural society. They have been living harmoniously with the key objective of serving society in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district; while the community has been saddened by a few people who try to cause communal flare up in the guise of conversion thereby causing discord among brethrens of different communities, he said.

Quadros said that over 350 Christian education institutions including hospitals in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district are serving the people of different faiths and communities. The students of different communities are studying in Christian institutions and there are no instances reported on conversion. We are proud to state that all Christian education institutions teach Indian cultural values to all students. Despite many Christian education institutions are not getting any aid from state government; they are offering subsidized fees and in a few instances offering free education to students; besides paying the salaries of honorary teachers through the governing council of respective schools. It’s significant that majority of non-Christian employees are serving in all these institutions. In spite of this, there are no instance of forcible conversion are reported from anywhere.

There is no truth in Christian conversations; if that is so Christian population should have been anything between 15 to 20 percent in India. Despite this, it remains static about 2.5 percent since British rule. The first census taken in post-independence year in 1951, Christian population was 2.3 percent and it remained the same in census taken in 2011. Meanwhile, it would be a fraction less in the proposed census in 2021. All this proves its not spiraling at all, he said.

We are being aware that our brethrens of Hindu religious outfits are planning to hold a walkathon on September 26, alleging conversion taking place in Divine Retreat Centre, Mulky. We are not against the protest that is right bestowed in our constitution. Meanwhile, we are deeply hurt by Holy brethrens. Holy Cross is sacred to Christians as it’s the sign of victory over sin. It’s the irony that the protest organizers were unaware of this fact. The peace-loving Christians are urging the organizers such actions have adverse effect in the society and are bound to be careful, he said.

Quadros said that the issue of conversion has its own narratives in Indian constitution; while desecration of Christianity is unjustified for propaganda by a few people of Hindu brethren whose ideology lies in equal religious freedom to all people in the society. Moreover, the dialogue could have resolved the issue rather than false allegations.

We urge you to seek legal means if in case there have been forcible conversions and Christian community supports in this regard. It’s owing to this recent incident; Christian institutions are facing the threat and urge the state administration to take notice of it.

Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh Past President Valerian Fernandes, Designated President Robert Menezes, former President Elroy Kiran Crasto, Udupi Deanery Catholic Sabha past President Mary D’Souza were present at the press meet.