Kochi: The Christian community in India has mounted a strong and united response against the arrest of nuns in Durg, Chhattisgarh, with two prominent Church leaders Syro-Malabar Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil and Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church Metropolitan Dr. Theodosius Mar Thoma denouncing the action as an outrageous violation of human rights and a direct attack on the secular values enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
Speaking after a consoling visit to the family of Sister Preethi, a Green Garden nun arrested in Durg, Major Archbishop Thattil described the charges against the nuns as “unjust, humiliating, and driven by communal prejudice.” Addressing reporters in Elavoor, Angamaly, he declared, “These are not merely religious workers. These nuns are daughters of India selfless women who serve the poor, the sick, and the marginalized without expecting anything in return. Their arrest wounds the very conscience of the nation.”
The Major Archbishop expressed deep concern over the increasing entanglement between administrative powers and communal agendas. “The alarming cooperation between certain state mechanisms and sectarian forces is eroding the constitutional guarantees of freedom, equality, and justice,” he warned, calling upon both the central and state governments to act urgently to uphold secular governance.
In a tone both pastoral and prophetic, Thattil questioned the moral trajectory of the nation. “What kind of message are we sending when those who teach children, tend the sick, and care for the dying are treated like criminals? Is service now a punishable offense? Is compassion a crime?” he asked, condemning the public humiliation of the nuns as a symptom of deepening communal blindness.
Despite the repression, he reaffirmed the unwavering mission of the Church. “You may try to silence us with threats, stones, or even prison, but our mission of love and service will continue. This is our witness to Christ. The Church will not retreat.” He called on all citizens to rise against sectarian hatred and defend not just the arrested nuns but the very soul of the Indian nation one built on coexistence and dignity for all.
Echoing similar sentiments, Dr. Theodosius Mar Thoma Metropolitan, head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, described the arrests as “an intolerable assault on the foundational pillars of Indian democracy.” In a strongly worded statement from Kochi, the Metropolitan stated, “These nuns have dedicated their lives to serving people without regard to religion or caste. Their arrest is a shameful breach of justice and an insult to the values of human dignity.”
He emphasized the government’s moral and constitutional duty to ensure equal legal protection to all. “When even our most selfless citizens those who have chosen a life of service are denied justice, it signals a dangerous deterioration of our democratic principles. The law must act as a shield for the innocent, not a weapon in the hands of the intolerant.”
Dr. Theodosius called for the immediate release of the nuns and a full restoration of their rights. “Justice delayed is justice denied. We demand swift legal recourse and clear action against those responsible for this travesty.”
The combined voices of these two influential Church leaders have galvanized the Christian community and human rights defenders across the country. Their statements underscore a growing anxiety over religious intolerance, minority persecution, and the misuse of legal instruments to target peaceful faith-based service.
The arrests, widely condemned as an affront to India’s pluralistic fabric, have become a flashpoint for a broader debate on the state of religious freedom and constitutional integrity in contemporary India. As calls for justice grow louder, the Church stands united not only in defense of the arrested nuns but in upholding the values of compassion, secularism, and the rule of law.