Mangalore, November 4: Expressing grief over the act of vandalism at St Alphonsa Catholic Church in Mangalore, Rev Lawrence Mukkuzhy, the Bishop of Belthangady Diocese, on Friday said that such things should not happen to any religious center and any community in this country.
He was speaking to media persons at a press meet called in the Church premises to clarify the doubts regarding Thursday's attack.
Stating that this Church never had such a bitter experience in its 23 years of history, the Bishop said that the vandalism in the holy place thoroughly upset the minority community. “Our faith is questioned and we are put to shame”, he added.
However, expressing his complete trust on India constitution, which upholds the secular values, Rev Mukkunzhy said that the unexpected attack on the Church by a strange man is a blot on the history of Mangalore.
He also urged the government authorities to take necessary legal action against the culprit and also provide protection to the Church to prevent the recurrence of such shameful things.
Officially apprising of the sequence of events occurred between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm on Thursday, to media persons Fr Sebastian Chelakkapally said: “Yesterday, i.e. on November 3, at around 8:30 pm, while the Assistant Parish Priest Fr Shibi Puthiyara, along with some of the hostel students were in the dining hall, a stranger entered the dining room. Fr Shibi asked the stranger why he had come. However, the intruder ran towards the church hall, without answering the question and started damaging the crucifix and the statue of Mother Mary. Thereafter, he entered in to sanctuary”
“After witnessing this unusual thing, the Assistant Parish Priest tried to call other members and when they reached, the intruder came out through sacristy, wearing a piece of white cloth which was put on the side table of the alter and was trying to run away”, he said.
Meanwhile all the residents came out and few of them went towards the gate and stopped him from running away. Thereafter the Assistant Parish Priest and other members saw the cup-board which was placed in the sacristy was open and holy vestments were scattered around and a statue of Jesus Christ was put down and was damaged, monstrance was thrown on the floor, he informed.
The people gathered there also saw the clothes and chapels which were worn by the stranger was thrown in the sacristy, he said.
“We are not sure whether the stranger had entered the Church hall before barging into dining hall since one of the doors of the Church was open”, he clarified.
He said that since he was not in station, the Assistant Parish Priest informed few of the committee members of the Parish, who rushed to the spot and informed the control room.
“Immediately the police personnel attached to Mangalore East Police Station came to the Church and took custody of the culprit. The police also seized the clothes and footwear of the accused and also found a wallet where in his voter ID was found. Through this ID card his identity was established as Shibu son of Manjraj from Jalligudde,” he informed.
Comments
Add new comment