Kochi: In a strong and unequivocal statement issued during its Monsoon Conference, the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) condemned the recent wave of violence targeting Christian missionaries in northern India, particularly two grave incidents reported from Odisha in the past fortnight. The council expressed deep alarm over the deteriorating climate of religious intolerance and hostility faced by Christians engaged in social service across several states.
The KCBC, which represents bishops from all three Catholic rites in Kerala, voiced its dismay that individuals who have dedicated their lives to selfless service—particularly in the spheres of education, healthcare, and rural development—are now becoming victims of orchestrated attacks and baseless allegations.
“These missionaries, many of whom have lived for decades in underdeveloped regions without seeking recognition or reward, are being repaid with violence and intimidation,” the council noted in its official communiqué. “Such assaults are not isolated events but part of a concerning pattern that threatens the fabric of pluralistic democracy enshrined in the Indian Constitution.”
The bishops emphasized that the Christian community has long been a quiet yet steady contributor to nation-building through schools, hospitals, and community development projects, especially in tribal and remote regions where government presence is often minimal. Attacks on priests, religious sisters, and lay volunteers not only compromise their personal safety but also disrupt the critical services they provide to some of India’s most marginalized populations.
The KCBC urged both the central and respective state governments—especially those in northern and eastern India—to take firm action against the perpetrators of hate crimes and to implement protective measures that uphold the constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and minority rights.
Citing Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion, the bishops called on civil authorities to prevent the weaponization of faith for political gain. “Religious service should never be criminalized or misinterpreted as a threat,” the KCBC stated, adding that the current climate of fear among Christian workers in some states must be addressed with urgency.
In conclusion, the KCBC reaffirmed its solidarity with the Christian community in Odisha and other parts of northern India facing persecution, assuring them of the prayers and support of the Kerala Church. The council also appealed to civil society, media, and interfaith leaders to stand up against communal polarization and work together to foster mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.