By M L Satyan

Bengaluru, August 3, 2023: In the YouTube I watched Karan Thapar’s recent interview with the Archbishop of Imphal. One pre-dominant and critical question was “Is there any hint on religious intolerance?”

The archbishop gave an elaborate response, “249 Meitei Christian churches in Imphal and Imphal valley have been destroyed. These may not include Kuki churches. We have no report that Kuki people attacked and destroyed these churches. We have no evidence. There is a version that four Meitei churches in the hilly country have been destroyed by Kuki people. But we have no direct evidence that Kuki people have done it. The Hindu group could have a role but we do not have any direct evidence.”

Karan Thapar referred to the CBCI team’s report that says “249 Meitei churches have been destroyed. Some Hindu organizations might be involved.” He pointed out to the statement in this report saying “In the midst of ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki the undercurrent of religious intolerance stands out” and asked him whether he stands by it. Archbishop said, “Yes, I stand by it.”

At this stage Karan Thapar referred to Cardinal Oswald’s video statement in which he said: “Manipur does not have any element of religious feud. It is only an inter-tribal conflict.”

Karan Thapar expressed his confusion visibly and asked the archbishop “Are the two of you contradicting because you both are saying different things?” For this question the archbishop did not give a clear response. He was smart enough to say that the cardinal was right in his own way although he did not have any first-hand information.

At this stage any viewer will get confused. I too was confused. The same person speaks about the presence of a third element in Manipur systematically destroying Christian churches and at the same time defends the cardinal saying that his view also may be correct.

New Life People’s Party of Tamil Nadu was also one among the confused public. On July 29, FA Nathan, president of the party wrote a letter to Cardinal Gracias. The letter points out to several sources that confirm the presence of the third force to carry out the systematic destruction of 249 or more Christian churches in Manipur. But the cardinal’s statement points out only to ethnic conflict between Meitei and Kuki tribes.

In that letter the party president has raised the following questions:

1) On what basis have you issued that video statement totally countering the statement of the archbishop of Imphal? Did you visit Manipur and study the situation first hand, talk to the victims and inspect the churches that have been ravaged/burnt down?
2) On what authority (Quo Warranto) have you issued the statement? Have you been authorised to do so by the CBCI? If so, is there a resolution authorising you to do so? What is your local stand?
3) Is it a coincidence that you issued the statement on 25-07-2023 and a senior RSS functionary reiterated it almost verbatim on 27-07-2023? Were you working with RSS on this?
4) What is your real motive in issuing this statement which in fact is the betrayal of the hapless and suffering Christian community in Manipur? Your video statement does not reflect your concern or anger for the destructed churches/homes of Christian community and the horrors of the two Christian women paraded naked and raped in Manipur. Whom are you trying to satiate?

The letter ends with this cautionary note: “We would like satisfactory answers to these questions within a week of issue of this letter. If not, we would take it that you have acted in order to pander to some vested interests and in the process deliberately damaged the Church and the interests of the Christian community in India and would proceed accordingly.”

We all know that there can be a difference of opinions. But the bitter reality is that there have been continuous attacks on Christian churches and community in various parts of India by Sangh Parivar groups. The cardinal is very much aware of this fact. Yet he has pointed out only an ethnic conflict in the Manipur violence. This is rather surprising indeed.

Another irony is that the Catholic prelates do not have the courage to challenge the RSS-driven federal government. Sometime back the prelates held a meeting with the prime minister and requested him to invite the Pope to India, gave red carpet welcome to the PM at the Catholic Cathedral in Delhi on the occasion of Easter this year and met the Home Minister at his hotel room in Kerala. On none of these occasions they gave a memorandum to neither PM nor HM to highlight the continuous attacks on Christians and Christian institutions. They never expressed their grievance in their personal meetings.

Even at parish level we can observe plenty of confusions created by priests. Here are some examples:

• During an Ash Wednesday Mass, the parish priest suggested that people could undertake sacrifices such as not going to hotels, and cinema theaters or celebrating birthday/anniversary parties. In the same parish the assistant parish priest during the second Mass said that lent is a period to renew relationships. Hence, he suggested that people could go to hotels and cinema theaters together and also have parties that will strengthen relationships.
• In a parish one parish priest built a grotto. But his successor demolished it. One priest started Adoration Chapel and another priest closed it.
• Many senior religious-minded priests advocate novenas, car processions and liturgical celebrations. But many young social activism-oriented priests ask people not to follow such things rather visit families and help the poor and needy people.
• Look at the way Eucharist is celebrated by priests. Each priest follows his own style, including the prayer texts. Should we call this creativity or confusion?

So, there is no dearth of confusions in the Catholic Church. The laity who always stays at the bottom of the pyramidal structure becomes the victim. This is the pathetic situation and how long it will continue. No one knows.