Vandalizing of Indian cathedral thwarted

(March 12, 2010) Catholics in a central Indian diocese of Satna expressed relief after police on Thursday thwarted an attempt by Hindu militants to vandalize a Catholic cathedral. Newspapers in Madhya Pradesh state reported that Hindu militants would try to burn effigies of Church people inside St. Vincent Cathedral to protest alleged Church conversion activities. The media also reported the Hindus were to hold a mock funeral procession before burning the effigies. Father Joseph Kodakallil, vicar general of Satna diocese, told UCA News some 60 people approached the cathedral around 5 pm on Thursday but police stopped them on the road. The crowd shouted anti-Christian slogans and burned an effigy on the road before dispersing after 30 minutes. The priest said they felt relieved that no untoward incident happened. Fr. Kodakallil, who is also the parish priest, said media reports did not say who issued the threats but that the Hindu extremist groups, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal were strongly suspected. Civil and police officials promised to protect the cathedral, he added. According to local media, the Hindu extremists were angry at earlier reports of a Christian marriage that took place in May 2009, and alleged it was an act of conversion. Satna diocese belongs to the Syro-Malabar eastern rite Catholic Church.