Christian symbols removed from cemetery in India, church condemning actions

The Archdiocese of Banglore is condemning the removal of a statue of Jesus and symbols of Christianity from a village's cemetery.

The burial site of many Christians from and around Doddasagarahalli Village, India featured a 12-foot statue of Jesus. The statue, along with other Christian symbols had been in place for 30-40 years up until early March when it was removed by local authorities.

"It is a blow to the communal harmony of the people in our villages and also a violation of the religious freedom guaranteed to us by the Indian Constitution," Reverend Dr. Peter Machado, the Archbishop of Bangalore says in a statement. "The Christians of Bangalore consider the forceful removal of the statue of Lord Jesus at our legally allotted burial ground at Doddasagarahalli as unacceptable."

Rumours that the burial site was being used as a conversion site is what the Archbishop says could have lead to the removal.

The Archbishop says local residents of the village state that the presence of Christian in their village is not an issue for them.

"Christians are peace-loving people, who obey the rules of the country. And they render their selfless service to the nation in the best possible ways, irrespective of caste, colour or religion," he says.

The statue was removed during the season of Lent, leading the Archbishop to ask the Christian community of Bangalore to pray for the forgiveness of those who removed the symbols.

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” the Archbishop prays.

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