NEWS

Silent Protest by Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh – Hospet Unit Against Attacks on Church Personnel

Hospet 10th August, 2025: The Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, Hospet Unit, along with the entire parish community, staged a silent protest after the Sunday Eucharist, condemning recent incidents targeting Catholic religious personnel in different parts of the country.

The protest was organised in response to two major incidents that have caused deep concern among the Christian community nationwide.

The first involved the arrest of two Catholic nuns from Kerala in Chhattisgarh on allegations of human trafficking and forced religious conversions. The incident has sparked nationwide outrage, with the Catholic Church strongly condemning both the allegations and the manner in which the religious sisters were treated.

In a separate incident, near Gangadhar village under Jaleswar Parish in Balasore district, Odisha, a mob of approximately 70 people allegedly surrounded and assaulted two Catholic priests, a catechist, and two nuns. The group had earlier attended a Requiem Mass and fellowship meal in a nearby Catholic home. While returning around 9:00 pm, they were reportedly confronted, abused, and physically attacked by individuals accusing them of religious conversions.

During the Hospet Unit’s protest, parishioners stood in solidarity with the victims, holding lit candles as a mark of peace and unity. No speeches were made, in keeping with the silent nature of the demonstration. The gathering aimed to send a strong message of condemnation against acts of violence and harassment towards members of the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Sabha reiterated its call for justice, urging authorities to conduct thorough investigations into both incidents and ensure the safety and dignity of religious personnel across the country.

Glimpses of  the  Protest: https://youtube.com/shorts/UDEtT8jIPwQ?feature=share