Mangalore: Christian Missionaries Involved in Social and Not Religious Conversion - Colaco
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (MM/RD)
Mangalore, Aug 29: Christian missionaries are not involved in any religious conversion in the country. But a conversion from social backwardness has taken place here because of missionaries. If this conversion is condemnable, then every social service in the world is wrong, said Ronald Colaco, president of Federation of Karnataka Christian Association (FKCA).
Addressing the gathering at a protest meet organized to condemn the attack on Christians in Orissa, by the FKCA in front of Deputy Commissioner’s office, here on Friday August 29, he said that instead of assaulting the pastors, Hindu fundamentalists who target the Christian missionaries should involve themselves in improving the living conditions of the downtrodden in India. The poorest of poor in response to the help extended by their own Hindu brethren, would send back the pastors back and accept these fundamentalists, he opined.
The percentage of Christians in India has declined from 2.57 percent to 2.27 in the last decade. If the missionaries were involved in the conversion, the Christian population would have certainly increased, he opined.
“We are Indians first, religion next. You are killing your fellow Indian, not of any religion. If you have the fighting spirit, please join the army where one can fight against the terrorists,” he challenged the fundamentalists.
Fr William Martis, parish priest of St Paul’s church, Balkunje, said, “Burn the churches, but do not kill the people. Churches can be built again, but the lives of those victims cannot be replaced. Finally, all the rivers of religion converge in the ocean. Better if the rivers converge with each other during the lifetime on earth before the final retreat in the estuary,” he added.
Fr Alban D’Souza, parish priest of St Jude’s church, Pakshikere, said that God will definitely forgive the miscreants who killed the innocents in Orissa. But the nature will not forgive them, he added.
Prof Rajaram Tolpady of Mangalore University, Fr Vinaylal Bangera, Fr Francis Almeida, vice - principal of St Aloysius College, MLAs Ramanath Rai, Abhayachandra, U T Khader and other leaders were present on the dais.
Meanwhile, the death of Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati and his four associates and all Christians who lost lives in the violence which erupted after the killing of the Swami and Lt Col J J Joseph of Bangalore who died recently along Indo – Pak border, while battling with the terrorists was condoled.
Arun D’Souza, secretary of Konkani Yuva Awaz and vice-president Santosh D’Costa compered the programme.
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