Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bombay (Agenzia Fides) – The Christian faithful in the district of “Byculla-Mazagaon”, in Bombay, had just erected a cross when it was demolished by bulldozers a few days ago, at the request of the civil authorities of the municipality. As reported by local sources of Fides, the faithful today, certain of their rights, organised a prayer meeting, led by Father Anthony Charangha, and relocated to the cross, announcing the same for another three crosses taken down. The meeting was also attended by A. Mathai, vice-president of the Commission for Religious Minorities in the State of Maharashtra, actively involved in the appeal filed by the Christians to the civil authorities. Mathai said that “given the existence of positive evidence, they certainly have the right to re-erect the crosses.”
Yesterday, Sunday, 6 March, a procession led by Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, united thousands of faithful Catholics and those of other denominations in the streets at the “Cross of Maidan”, to protest the demolition that took place for at least three crosses in the municipality of Byculla-Mazagaon. The Cardinal said that the Prime Minister of the State contacted him, assuring him of a meeting to resolve the issue.
“The Governors of several states of India are destroying religious structures, citing a Supreme Court verdict, but only carrying out a selective demolition of Christian symbols,” complains Joseph Dias to Fides, an activist from the Christian-Catholic Secular Forum, organiser of the protest march. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 7/3/2011)
