Mangalore: Christian Missionaries Involved in Social and Not Religious Conversion - Colaco


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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  • Rajesh, Udupi

    Wed, Sep 03 2008

    It very often a complaint among Christans that their own children do not get admission in to Christian school. Missionaries very often turn down admission to so many good and deserving children saying other community children need to be admitted also and there are only limited seats. If Christian schools are into conversion and making christians Why most of the high profile politicians and leaders exert pressure tactics and influence into Christian schools to get their children admission???

    It is the dusty and responsibility of the leaders, studens and children who have gone through Christian schools to come out and speak up for the institutions they owe their lives and their success. To speak up and convert the sick minds into good education, into clear and virtuous thinking, into pure hears, into being BETTER HUMAN BEINGS concerned and mindful of their fellow beings and NOT CONVERT THEIR RELIGION. Hindus to be Better and True Hindus, Muslims to be better and True Muslims, Christians to be Better and True Christians, Sikhs to be better and True Sikhs... etc... WHAT DOES IT MATTER IF ONE CHANGES HIS RELIGION BUT LIVES LIKE A WILD ANIMAN AND EVEN WORSE ?? Let us at least live like Good Human Beings or at least like Domestic animals, Caring for each other....

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  • Rajesh, Udupi

    Wed, Sep 03 2008

    It is very essential that those who point fingers and instigate unemployed youth on the street to commit criminal acts get educated and get to see in person what is being done at what mission ( project). Be it a school, hospital, rural development scheme, slum development programme etc.. etc... It is helping man to live like a better human being. It is trying to eradicate suffering of various kinds that does not allow man to live a full life like a better human being caring and sharing with his/her fellow human beings... It is not necessary to convert. convert to what to a religion ? to a race ? to a party? To a culture ?

    NO.... It is helping the creatures to to live a better and fuller life. To educate, to give good health care, to give good environment, TO IMPART GOOD HUMAN VALUES. and to help live and help to let others live. THIS IS NOT RELIGIOUS CONVERSION. This is human dignity and basic values which RAMA, Mohammad, Jesus, Buddha, etc.... etc... taught and expected the generation that followed did... at least....

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  • Lancy D'Silva, Karnataka / United Arab Emirates

    Sun, Aug 31 2008

    Just as Sunil Shetty from Kaikamba, Mangalore mentioned, lets look at all the good that the institutions have given us. As far as my knowledge goes, every parent wants his or her child to attend a Christian or convent school as they want their children to get good education and learn good values.

    I personally agree that the violence is caused by a bunch of miscreants and politicians who are either uneducated or rarely attended school in their life. I think very citizen of India should look ahead and see that our country stays in 'peace and harmony and not in pieces.

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  • Anita, Bendure - Mangalore

    Sun, Aug 31 2008

    Very well said Mr. Sunil Shetty and Niki. The unemployed, uneducated have nothing else to do so are into all these evil acts by attacking innocent people.......they fail to know that one day death will come to them in the same way.

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  • Rolphy Almeida, Kalmady/Bangalore

    Sun, Aug 31 2008

    The attack on Christian community is not by those who are practically involved, but by those working behind the screen coward politicians. People say slavery does not exist on earth that is not true in the case of Orissa. It is against the wishes of upper cast people of Orissa, to educate and uplift the downtrodden, because they lose slaves.

    Go to any Christian school, collage, or hospital and check the record maximum people employed are non Christians, maximum students received education are non Christians, maximum patients received treatment are non Christians. Are all of them are converted to Christianity? Christianity will never force anyone to convert. Christianity condemns all forms of killings.

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  • Ossie bendur, Bendur, Mangalore

    Sat, Aug 30 2008

    Yes these are the great words of every Christian in India and others to know them. We living in the middle east pledge and support and join in your actions “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.

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  • Niki, mangalore

    Sat, Aug 30 2008

    It is with great joy I say congrats to all the people who attended the protest in front of the D.C.office, Mangalore on Friday which went on well and peacefully... Peace lovers as we are following the footsteps of christ... I pray for all the people of all religions and all the Indians to live in peace with each other as children of one mother who teaches us about one god and master to whom we are accountable at the end of our life...

    I pray for all the people who are sinners in the eyes of god by the Orrissa incidents and the Bondel church incident...I believe that the Lord god will hear his children's prayer and grant us mercy and justice and forgiving the people who have commited the crime in the eye of the law..

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  • Patrick D'Souza, Mangalore

    Sat, Aug 30 2008

    "Forgive them Farther for they know not what they do". If at all any one has to learn about human compassion, it is from the Christians only. Remember Mother Theresa,Graham Stains. I don't blame the youths who go about slicing people & destroying property, peace & tranquility. They are unemployed, hungry, nothing positive to do, thrown out from their own homes and eagerly waiting for incitement from vested persons.

    All what is required is the law of the land which provides for identifying these vested persons and putting them behind bars or even death, for man slaughter. But is this really happening?

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  • Henry Valder, Kinnikambla

    Sat, Aug 30 2008

    Leaders-Please do not intoxicate general public with opium of communal anger.Infliction of communal hatrEd feeling results in violence,destruction and loss of lives.Public should condemn violence and should BE aware of people who breed hatred and dont follow them.

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  • Nelson Ajay D'souza, Kemmannu/Bahrain

    Sat, Aug 30 2008

    Those who live for God can expect trouble in the world. May the almighty God Gurd and Guide all the Missionaries and People.

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  • Sunil Shetty, Kaikamba, Mangalore

    Sat, Aug 30 2008

    The attack on Christian at Orrissa is shamefull act well planned by the Thugs .They are nothing less than the terrorists. Acussing the Christians converting the Hindus into christianity is false acusation because many Hindus even today study in christian Institutions. Why do they go to Christian Institutions if they fear of conversions? Many of these thugs like togadia take advantage of christian instutions and blame them of conversions.

    I am a hindu studied in catholic school and college. I am now also Hindu. I should be grateful what they have given me .We should be just in our comments.

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  • Vinod, Mangalore

    Sat, Aug 30 2008

    Sangh Parivar should learn from Christians on how to protest peacefully.

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  • Jose Gregon, Bannur, Puttur

    Sat, Aug 30 2008

    Nobody should snatch away forcibly his or her Birth Right to accept a faith in any religion where he or she finds solace. Those create terror and fear in the name conversion to catch vote bank to any party should be punished. These organizations are un-cultured organizations who create havoc in the country and it’s high time to ban these organizations who take laws in their hands.

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  • leslie dsouza, bikarnakate

    Sat, Aug 30 2008

    It was a great condemnation and protest.  I wish these things will go into the minds of these politicians and the coward act done by vhp and bajrangdal and will live in peace and beg pardon for what they have done

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