As Bishops’ body hosts PM Modi, calls within to get govt to do more on ‘Church attacks’

Thazhath said the PM’s “vision for a united and progressive India echoes the Gospel values of inclusion and service to all”, but also mentioned concerns regarding those “targeted by anti-social fringe elements in some parts of the country”.

The Archbishop said: “As we rejoice in the message of Christmas, we are also mindful of the challenges faced by some members of our community in certain parts of the country. It is with utmost respect and humility, Honourable Prime Minister, that I bring to your kind attention the concerns of those who have been targeted by anti-social fringe elements. These incidents of violence and discrimination not only harm the affected individuals but also disrupt the harmony and unity that you so tirelessly strive to uphold.”

Incidentally, Thazhath hails from Kerala’s Thrissur, a Lok Sabha constituency which gave the BJP its first-ever MP from the state in Suresh Gopi.

A member of the CBCI who attended Monday’s meeting told The Indian Express that the Archbishop’s message was a toned-down version of concerns raised by some pastors, priests and bishops across the country.

Ahead of the meeting, around 200 people issued an open letter criticising the CBCI for inviting Modi, saying it “ignores the plight of persecuted Christians”. The letter quoted “persecution data” released by organisations like the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) and United Christian Forum (UCF), which are seen to be close to the CBCI, involving allegedly members of Hindu right-wing groups.

Specifically, the BJP governments in Manipur and the Centre have faced criticism for not doing enough to protect the rights of Christians and other minority groups during the ongoing conflict in the state.

A source in the CBCI said some members wanted to raise the Manipur issue on Monday, but neither the CBCI president nor the PM touched upon it.

Another CBCI member said that the body should have at least made a representation to the PM and urged him to take stringent action against attacks on Christians and churches. “Many of the victims in such violence are Dalit or Adivasi Christians,” the member said.

Shortly after the PM’s address, in an apparent dig at the CBCI, Metropolitan Bishop of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Youhanon Meletius said, “There, they honour the bishops and revere the crib (nativity scene). Here, they destroy the cribs.” He was referring to incidents of disruptions of Christmas celebrations in government schools in Palakkad, with VHP members arrested in one case.

The BJP dismissed the criticism as “a distraction created by the Opposition”. “Every prominent leader of the CBCI was there at the event. The senior-most Cardinal, Cardinal Oswald, had categorically said that the Manipur conflict is ethnic (and not religious) in nature. The PM and Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) are attempting to resolve this conflict,” BJP national secretary and national spokesperson Anil K Antony said.

He also argued that Monday’s event was neither the venue nor the platform to discuss issues which are dealt with by the Home Ministry on a regular basis. “All CBCI officials, including the five Cardinals from India, showed good faith in our PM’s vision of taking everybody together into Viksit Bharat,” he said.

The CBCI’s official stand is that it has been raising the issue time and again. “Every chance we get, we raise the issue of attacks on churches and Christians not just with the PM but with other government bodies. Even in his address on Monday, Archbishop Thazhath mentioned the attacks,” Robinson Rodrigues, the spokesperson of the CBCI, told The Indian Express.

The Modi-led BJP has been long wooing the Christian vote, particularly in Kerala. Senior party leaders have visited homes of bishops of the Catholic Church, sharing with them the PM’s Easter greetings. Last year, Modi also met eight bishops of various Christian denominations.