Southern States - Karnataka

Christians to stage march in Mysore

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE Feb. 18. The Bishop of Mysore, Joseph Roy, will lead a procession from St. Joseph's Cathedral to the Deputy Commissioner's office on Tuesday in protest against Sunday's unprovoked attack on the Holy Family Church in Hinkal near here.

"All Catholic institutions in the city will remain closed tomorrow," said Rev. Dr. Roy at a press conference here today. Expressing deep anguish over the organised attack on the church and the helpless Christians who had gathered for the Sunday service, Rev. Dr. Roy requested the law and order authorities to provide protection to Christian places of worship and the Christians who gather to pray. A group of 60 to 70 persons, armed with sticks and lethal weapons, entered the church compound on Sunday morning and ransacked the premises before attacking the people there. The mob broke the windowpanes of the church.

"They even tried to enter the church to ransack and pull down the altar, but they were prevented by some sisters and teachers who were inside the church teaching catechism to little children," Rev. Dr. Roy said.

Describing the incident as "unprovoked", the Bishop said Christians, who love peace and harmony, had been deeply hurt by these incidents. Every Indian enjoyed the fundamental right to practice and propagate religion. "But the Roman Catholic Church does not believe in, and clearly condemns, any conversion by force. To accuse us of indulging in conversion by force without proof is false and mischievous."

The Vicar-General, Marie Joseph, denied that any Christian group was involved in forced conversion to Christianity. However, there may be a few groups who hand out religious literature. "But, the Holy Family Church in Hinkal, which was attacked on Sunday, was not even involved in the handing out literature," he added.

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