New Delhi: In a strong and unequivocal statement, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has raised serious concerns over the rising atrocities against religious minorities, specifically pointing to the recent arrest and mistreatment of two nuns in Durg, Chhattisgarh. The CBCI denounced what it termed as “a blatant denial of constitutional rights” and alleged that the nuns were not only wrongfully detained but also physically assaulted.
During a press conference in New Delhi, CBCI President Archbishop Andrews Thazhath expressed deep anguish over the situation. “This is not just about two nuns. This is about the soul of Indian democracy. The rights of citizens are being denied with impunity,” he said. The conference revealed that despite the existence of consent forms signed by adult women involved in the case, additional criminal sections were imposed solely to deny the nuns bail and criminalize their religious activities.
The CBCI announced that it would be filing a bail plea for the arrested Sisters—Vandana and Preeti Mary within the next two days, after consulting legal experts. “This is a judicial entrapment using unconstitutional methods. The law is being weaponized against innocent women who have chosen to live lives of service,” the CBCI leadership stated.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the CBCI condemned inflammatory comments made by a BJP MLA from Maharashtra, who reportedly announced rewards for assaulting Christians. “This is nothing short of a call to vigilantism. Yet, no case has been filed against him. This double standard undermines every value this country stands for,” said Archbishop Thazhath.
The bishops also expressed disappointment over the silence of Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, George Kurien, on the issue, stating that he failed to intervene when Christian voices needed political backing the most. “His silence has been deafening,” remarked one senior CBCI official.
However, the CBCI maintained that it continues to engage with the Central Government. “We have informed the Prime Minister’s Office and reminded them of their responsibility. When the Prime Minister visited the CBCI office, we urged him to take decisive steps to stop such atrocities,” Thazhath said. The bishops expressed gratitude to opposition leaders who have extended their support in Parliament and in public discourse.
Mar Baselios Cleemis also joined in the condemnation, calling the arrest “a direct assault on religious liberty.” He urged the state and central governments to act swiftly to restore justice and accountability. Mar Joseph Pamplani reiterated that the charges of religious conversion are “baseless and politically motivated,” and warned that minorities are being systematically hunted under the pretext of the anti-conversion laws.
The CBCI concluded with a powerful call for national unity against hate: “If organizations like Bajrang Dal are involved in anti-national and anti-constitutional activities, they must be banned. No citizen should live in fear because of their faith.”
With growing support from both secular and religious circles, and increasing scrutiny on the actions of law enforcement in Chhattisgarh, the CBCI’s stand marks a turning point in the Church’s vocal resistance to religious persecution. The coming days are expected to witness stronger mobilization from civil society, as the legal battle for justice begins.