By Matters India Reporter
Palai, Feb 24, 2024: The Syro-Malabar Church on February 24 condemned the attack on a priest by some who intruded into a church premises in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
The violence against the priest is “totally condemnable and the government should take strong action,” demanded the Church’s Public Affairs Commission reacting to the February 23 incident at St Mary’s Forane Church in Poonjar, a parish under the diocese of Palai.
Father Joseph Attuchalil, the assistant priest, was admitted to a hospital in Palai with injuries after he was hit by motorcycle riders in the churchyard.
Police have arrested eight people in connection with the incident.
The commission said more than 50 young outsiders came to the churchyard in eight cars and a few bikes when the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was going on inside the church. They created loud noises revving up the vehicles, apparently to disturb the services.
As parish priest Father Mathew Kadookunnel was away, the assistant priest came out and told them to leave the place. Provoked, one of them hit the 33-year-old priest with the motorbike, making him fall down.
As someone rang the church bell, a large number of people gathered at the church premises to protest the incident.
The commission says disturbing church services and attacking the priest “can only be understood as an encroachment on the religious freedom and worship rights of the Christians.”
It also pointed out similar incidents have been happening at many other churches in the diocese.
The attack on the priest is a serious case. Police and the law enforcing agencies should take strong action, and should not dismiss the case as an offense by some minors, it asserted.
“There is reason to believe that the incident was aimed at creating religious rivalry, and not an act by criminals for or drug mafia groups,” it said.
The commission wants the government to probe the incident and identify and punish those who had instigated the youth.
The same sentiments were shared by Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt of Palai who had sent a diocesan team to study the matter.
“Our churches and priests and religious should be protected. We cannot close our eyes to encroachment on our faith. Our country gives us the right to protest such incidents,” Bishop Kallarangatt told media persons.
He cautioned his people not to be driven by emotions, but deal with the matter with maturity, taking recourse to spiritual, social and legal resources.
He also said the youth is going astray because of the failure of the parents to bring them up as responsible citizens.