Team Herald
PANJIM: The Catholic Association of Goa (CAG) has condemned the church demolition in Chattarpur by the South Delhi district administration on Monday.
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CAG, which is affiliated to the All India Catholic Union and is approved by Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, issued a statement on Wednesday stating that the news of the demolition ‘has come as a shock to Catholics across the State of Goa’.
“While the authorities claim that The Little Flower Church in Lado Sarai was demolished by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation citing encroachment of the government’s agricultural land ‘by some people by installment of religious structures’, it is not clear why the authorities were in a hurry to demolish this 10 year old structure even though the matter was being heard in court,” said Ethel Lobo, CAG President.
CAG further pointed out that the land where the church stood was donated to the Diocese of Faridabad Syro Malabar Diocese 12 years ago for the religious purpose of some 1500 local Catholics.
“The heavy-handedness of the local authorities sends a wrong signal across the Catholic community which has contributed immensely in the growth of this nation. Such incidents don’t just hurt the religious sentiments of Catholics across the country, it may create an atmosphere of suspicion of a larger conspiracy which will lead to distrust of the authorities during a time when cooperation between various communities and government authorities is needed to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic,” Ethel added.
CAG further stated that they will be praying for the clergy and parishioners of Little Flower Church that they may find the strength to unite and overcome this incident.
