The Christian community from the eastern Indian state of Odisha (formerly Orissa) was left in shock after the Holy Family Church in Titlagarh Parish, Diocese of Sambalpur, was desecrated on the night of March 22.
The church, located approximately 390 kilometers south of Bhubaneswar, the state capital, was broken into by thieves and miscreants who vandalized sacred items and stole church property.
According to an official circular issued by the Catholic Diocese of Sambalpur, the perpetrators broke open the church, stole the tabernacle and donation box, destroyed a religious statue, and desecrated the Holy Eucharist.
Bishop Niranjan Sualsingh of Sambalpur, in his circular dated March 22, has called on the faithful to remain united in prayer, seeking strength, peace, and justice.
“We entrust this grave matter into the hands of the Lord with contrition and penance,” the bishop wrote.
He urged solidarity with the parish priest, Divine Word Father Joseph Antony, associate priest Ashit Bilung, and the parishioners of Holy Family Church while reminding all to stay vigilant and steadfast in faith.
Father Ajaya Kumar Singh of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar and a human rights activist condemned the act, calling it “alarming” and “part of nefarious designs to cause social unrest and ill will.”
He urged authorities to take the incident seriously and ensure that the culprits are brought to justice.
“The district administration must act swiftly and assure the safety and protection of religious minorities,” Singh added.
A First Information Report (FIR, or an initial police report) has been filed, and investigations are ongoing.
Attacks on Christians, churches, and their institutions occur intermittently, according to reports.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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