Diocese of Mangalore Condemns Attacks on Christians During Christmas, Seeks Government Action

Diocese of Mangalore Condemns Attacks on Christians During Christmas, Seeks Government Action

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Dec 28, 2025: The Diocese of Mangalore has strongly condemned a series of attacks and incidents of intimidation targeting the Christian community across India, including in Karnataka, during the Christmas season, and urged governments to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of the community.

In a statement, Roy Castelino, Public Relations Officer of the Diocese, termed the incidents “highly condemnable” and appealed to the authorities concerned to act decisively to protect constitutional rights and religious freedom.

The statement cited multiple incidents from different parts of the country. In Palakkad, Kerala, members of a Christmas carol group were allegedly attacked by extremist elements. In other places, individuals selling Christmas-related items reportedly faced obstruction and violence. In New Delhi, activists linked to a Hindu organisation allegedly harassed Christian women and children wearing Santa Claus caps, accusing them of religious conversion. In Bengaluru, Satyaniṣṭha Arya and his supporters were accused of disrupting a church programme and threatening a priest.

The Diocese noted that such incidents were contrary to the spirit of the Constitution and stood in sharp contrast to the Prime Minister’s participation in Christmas prayers at a church in Delhi. It said reports of attacks, disruptions and attempts to disturb Christmas celebrations had emerged from several states, including Kerala, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Odisha, causing deep anguish to the Christian community.

Stating that the incidents were not merely attacks on one religious group, the Diocese said they amounted to assaults on India’s constitutional values. “Threatening the freedom of worship is unconstitutional and strikes at the foundations of democracy,” the statement said.

The Diocese of Mangalore reiterated that the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to practise their religion and described acts of violence in a secular nation as unacceptable. It urged the Central and State Governments to take strict legal action against fundamentalist groups and ensure that Christians across the country are able to live peacefully and with dignity.