I was shocked to read the reported statements of India’s two top Cardinals on a few stray incidents involving the targeting of some churches and a couple of convent schools. I could never imagine that church
leaders of such standing could make these insensitive and irresponsible remarks on the basis of some sporadic incidents, taunting the authorities to protect humans too, not just cows! Christians have been in India for more than 2,000 years. The community has flourished by all accounts. Despite some missionaries’ excessive zeal to convert poor, tribal Hindus to their faith, the Christians have received a fair deal in the country.
In a vast, complex country such as ours, a few untoward incidents of burglary, robbery or even isolated cases of insult to religious icons, have been happening. But let the Cardinals not forget that such unacceptable events have affected even temples and mosques. It is preposterous to suggest that our secular fabric is lying in smithereens.