Kottayam: The head of the Orthodox Church, Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, has strongly criticised the central government over attacks against Christians. He said proper awareness is needed to control people who carry out such attacks.
Speaking at the Christmas message service at St. Mary’s Church in Panampally, Kottayam, the Catholic leader said every religion teaches truth, justice and love. But he added that extremists can be found in every religion. He said it is the duty of every government to control such extremists.
He compared India to the slogan America for Americans and said a similar idea of India for Hindus will not succeed here. He said Christians would not hesitate to become martyrs to defend their faith. He added that Christianity has grown through suffering and martyrdom since the time the Gospel was first brought to India by St. Thomas.
He said no forced religious conversions have been attempted here. If that had happened, the Christian population in India would not be only 2.7 percent today. He said there are reports in the media of attacks on Christians and other minority communities by organisations linked to the RSS.
The church leader warned that after attacks on celebrations outside churches, it may not be long before attacks reach inside churches. He said under the Constitution all citizens in India have equal freedom regardless of majority or minority. He said every religion has the same right to believe, practise and spread their faith, and this right must be protected.
He said freedom to build or worship in places of worship is granted equally to all religions by both God and the Constitution. He said no extremist group has the right to act against this, and it is the responsibility of those who govern the country to control such activities.
He added that if authorities do not speak out or condemn attacks, Christians and other minorities may view it as part of a plan against them. He also criticised calls by some extremists that foreign religions should not exist in India.
He said Christians in India have been born and raised in this country since the time of St. Thomas and are Indian by origin. He stressed that people of all religions, including Christians and Muslims, who are born and raised here have the right to live in India.