Dimapur, August 16 (EMN): Catholic Association Nagaland (CAN) has expressed concern over increasing trends of inter-denomination intolerances and discrimination promoted by some ill-informed church leaders to perpetuate disunity among people.
This concern was expressed by CAN president, N Simon Dzüvichü, while referring to the reprehensible act of Leinganching village in Ukhrul district, Manipur, in which its members were restricted entry into the village for the last seven days for the burial rites of late Mrs Rita Hoari for being Catholic by faith by their grandstanding over a sectarian provision of the village constitution enacted as ‘One village, one religion/denomination.’
‘The persistent efforts of intolerance and odious repression reserved for Catholic minority in this form is against all tenets of human dignity and unconstitutional,’ the press release said.
Stating that freedom of religion or belief is universal human rights and is guaranteed under Article 25, it said the Indian constitution gives all citizens the ‘freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion.’
It has termed the villagers’ denial of a burial to a fellow human being for over seven days as ‘outrageous and despicable,’ adding the belligerence reflected total disregard and disrespect to the basic inherent right and dignity for the deceased, the bereaved family and to the Catholic families of the village.
“This is deplorable and as a professing Christian is totally and utterly unchristian in character,” the statement added.
In the light of the above stated circumstances, CAN has appealed to all honest men to disapprove such sectarian prejudices in all its forms and to forge for a peaceful resolution to bury without delay the mortal remains of the deceased in their land and pave way for resettlement of the displaced families back to their rightful place.
Meanwhile, CAN has conveyed condolence to the bereaved family and prayed to the Almighty God to grant grace to endure the trails during their difficult times.
