Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jun 13: Demanding setting up of a separate diocese for the protestant Christians living in Mysore and neighbouring districts, a protest demonstration was held by protestant Christian delegations from these districts in front of CSI Bishop’s House at Balmatta in the city on Sunday June 12.

The protest was led by Christ Forum Mysore. Parishioners from Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, Hassan and Chikmagalur districts participated in the protest. They said that the Bishop’s House and the central office of Karnataka Southern Diocese is in distant Mangalore, and that their 25-year-old demand for carving out of a separate Mysore diocese for serving the protestant Christians residing in these districts and for enabling better management of various educational and philanthropic institutions functioning in these districts have been overlooked.

A verbal friction between the members of the local CSI and the demonstrators ensued during the protest. The protestors tried to convince the representatives of the diocese about the benefits of setting up of a diocese at Mysore.

In the absence of Bishop, J S Sadananda, Rev Prem Kumar accepted the memorandum submitted on behalf of the protestors. The protestors demanded to take up discussions on their demand at the diocesan meeting proposed to be held during November this year.

Christ Forum office bearers, Ref J Charles Devadas, D William Keri, Evan Theja J, Jitendra Kumar, and district-wise representatives were present.