Media Release
Udupi, Sep 24: “There is no necessity of conversion. We will not support any conversion. Some Hindu outfits are making false allegations. Some Christian groups are indulged in conversion activities, but we will not support such groups also. There are many sub-classes in Christian community all over the world,” said Alwyn Quadros, president, Catholic Sabha, Udupi Pradesh.
Alwyn was speaking at Udupi Press club here on Tuesday, September, 24. He further said, “News is making rounds since a few days that a Hindu brethren, hailing from Udyavar was forcibly converted to Christianity by Divine Retreat Centre near Mulky in Mangaluru taluk. At this backdrop, Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh clarifies that the protest call given by Hindu religious outfits in this regard has indeed hurt the sentiment of peace-loving Christians.
“Christian community has been contributing in healthcare, education and socio-economic spheres in the country since hundreds of years. It co-exists peacefully with multi-religious and multi-cultural society. They have been living harmoniously with the key objective of serving society in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district. While the community has been saddened by a few people who try to cause communal flare up in the guise of conversion thereby causing discord among brethren of different communities.
”Over 350 Christian education institutions including hospitals in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district are serving the people of different faiths and communities. The students of different communities are studying in Christian institutions and there are no instances reported on conversion. We are proud to state that all Christian education institutions teach Indian cultural values to all students. Despite many Christian education institutions are not getting any aid from state government; they are offering subsidized fees and in a few instances offering free education to students; besides paying the salaries of honorary teachers through the governing council of respective schools. It is significant that majority of non-Christian employees are serving in all these institutions. In spite of this, there are no instance of forcible conversion reported from anywhere.
“There is no truth in Christian conversions; if that is so Christian population should have been anything between 15 to 20 per cent in India. Despite this, it remains static about 2.5 per cent since British rule. The first census taken in post -Independence year in 1951, Christian population was 2.3 per cent and it remained the same in census taken in 2011. Meanwhile, it would be a fraction less in the proposed census in 2021. All this proves it is not spiralling at all. We are aware that our brethren of Hindu religious outfits are planning to hold a walkathon on September 26, alleging conversion taking place in Divine Retreat Centre, Mulky. We are not against the protest that is right bestowed in our constitution. Meanwhile, we are deeply hurt by Holy Cross that is desecrated in the viral video posted in a social media by the Hindu brethren. Holy Cross is sacred to Christians as it is the sign of victory over sin. It is the irony that the protest organizers were unaware of this fact. The peace-loving Christians are urging the organizers that such actions have adverse effect in the society and are bound to be careful.
“The issue of conversion has its own narratives in Indian constitution; while desecration of Christianity is unjustified for propaganda by a few people of Hindu brethren, whose ideology lies in equal religious freedom to all people in the society. Moreover, the dialogue could have resolved the issue rather than false allegations.
“We urge you to seek legal means, if in case, there have been forcible conversions and Christian community supports the same. It is owing to this recent incident; Christian institutions are facing the threat and urge the state administration to take notice of it,” he said.
Valerian Fernandes, past president, Robert Menezes, designated president, Elroy Kiran Crasto, former president and Mary D’Souza, president, Udupi Deanery Catholic Sabha, were present.