By Verghese V Joseph –
New Delhi: The President of The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and Archbishop of Bombay, Oswald Cardinal Gracias, is hopeful of a solution in New Delhi’s Little Flower Church demolition issue.
In a communication the Cardinal said, “After the distressing news of the demolition of a Church in Delhi, it was gratifying to learn that Archbishop Kuriakose Bharanikulangara of Faridabad had a productive meeting with the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday. Things seem to be moving towards a solution.”
“It is indeed unfortunate that the civic authorities acted with haste when the matter was still under discussion. Such precipitate action only serves to create fear and disturb harmony among communities. We express our solidarity with Archbishop Bharanikulangara,” Cardinal Oswald added.
The CBCI is the permanent association of the Catholic Bishops of India.
It may be recalled that the Little Flower Church, managed by the Syro-Malabar Church in Lado Sarai, which falls in South Delhi, was pulled down on July 12 following an order from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
Archbishop Bharanikulangara said the land was bought in 2006 and Little Flower Church had been holding services for the last 12 years. “Our papers on church land are complete and there was no such issue in the past. The incident has extremely saddened our people, who are in a state of shock,” he stated.
The prelate said it was very disheartening to see the church demolished, especially as the DDA did not even give church officials time to explain their stance.
Church and political leaders across India have condemned the demolition.