By Matters India Reporter
Gandhinagar, March 23, 2023: The head of the Catholic Church in Gujarat has urged the state Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel to take immediate and stringent action against those who have insulted the Pope and Catholic priests and nuns.
The March 21 letter from Archbishop Thomas Ignatius Macwan of Gandhinagar draws the chief minister’s attention to a recent viral video clip where a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (world Hindu council) leader is shown using “demeaning, uncouth and crass words” in Gujarati to make “obnoxious, shameful and hurtful statements against the Pope” and cast aspersion on the integrity of nuns and priests.
“He has hurt the sentiments of more than 1.4 billion Catholics all over the world,” the 70-year-old archbishop says.
The Hindu leader, the Catholic prelate points out, made “the hate speech” at a function in Kadi, a village in Gujarat’s Mehsana district, where Catholic priests have for years served special children, the aged and the “so-called unwanted of our society” irrespective of caste, creed or religion.
“We want you to book the said VHP leader and the organizers of the event in Kadi inciting the people by organizing such Hate Campaign and take stringent action against these hooligans,” demands the Gujarat-born prelate, who was appointed the Gandhinagar archbishop on June 12, 2015.
The prelate bemoans that Christians in the state now experience extreme insecurity because of the increasing attacks, intimidation and “vitriolic hate speeches” against the community by sectarian and criminal groups.
“This is done systematically, consciously and deliberately with the tacit support of their local political bosses and their ideologues,” the archbishop alleges.
He also speaks about the attacks on St. Mary’s School in Amreli on February 20 and a few days later on St. Thomas School, Mahuva, by “unruly elements” putting Church workers under “great physical and mental risk.”
“Being a miniscule minority community, we have become soft-targets to these fringe groups,” Archbishop Macwan laments.
The prelate reminds the chief minister that Christians have remained a peace-loving community immersed in nation-building with the prime mission of reaching out to the peripheries of society.
He also acknowledges the majority of Hindu brethren who appreciate and support the Church’s work in education, healthcare and social service.
“They have been appreciative of the Christian Community’s contributions during the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, natural and man-made disasters,” he says.
Christians form just 0.52 percent of Gujarat’s 60.4 million people. Catholics live under Gandhinagar archdiocese, Ahmedabad and Baroda dioceses – all Latin — the Syro-Malabar diocese of Rajkot.
We pray fervently for the hooligans and those trying to insult and speak ill against Christians that God’s spirit touch their hearts and we grow stronger in our Faith in God.
Prayer is the weapon which will melt n mold the hearts of those who speak ill n instigate others . Let our faith n trust grow stronger. Though we are minority in no. We are majority in love n service. Let us pray.
Our prayerful support. We are with you May God protect you all.