Church break-in - Bengaluru archbishop Peter Machado cries sacrilege, differs with police


Bengaluru, Jan 21 (IANS): Differing with the police department dismissing the St Francis of Assisi Church's break in as burglary, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Bengaluru, Peter Machado, called it a sacrilege.

"I am deeply disturbed and terribly shocked and also greatly grieved that desecration was done to Lord Jesus Christ who is present in the Holy Eucharist," Machado said, calling it a great dishonour.

Machado said the burglar broke open the tabernacle, the sanctum sanctorum of the Catholic church, and threw the Holy Communion and the sacred spices.


Archbishop of Bengaluru Peter Machado

"A sacrilege and serious dishonour is done to our Blessed Lord and Saviour which is a matter of great concern not only to the parishioners of St. Francis Assisi Parish, but it also seriously affects the religious sentiments of all of us in the entire archdiocese, and also all the members of the Catholic community worldwide," said Machado.

In an attempt to restore the honour, Machado appealed to the congregation to observe Friday as a 'Day of Reparation' to praise, glorify and worship the Eucharistic Lord in a very special way.

"I have requested the Parish Priests/Chaplains to expose the Blessed Sacrament for adoration on this day, and keep it for at least 12 hours from morning till evening for public veneration in all the churches and religious houses of the archdiocese," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Kengeri Assistant Commissioner of Police U.D. Krishna Kumar dismissed the burglary as a mere theft.

"There is no communal motive to the burglary, it was only a theft," Kumar told IANS.

Kumar said an FIR has been registered on a complaint filed by the church father Satish Kumar. According to Kumar, the thief broke into the church at around 11 p.m. on Monday to decamp with the offering box.

Kumar said the police are yet to arrest the culprit.

However, Machado expressed hope that the police will nab the culprits and uncover their real motive.

Kengeri is a satellite town 20 km from Bengaluru.

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • shuba, Mumbai

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Whatever has happened is really bad and condemnable. Only God can help forgiving these thieves.
    Surely they may not have a right conscience - mentally retarded. If they have a conscience it will surely prick them. God save this country

    DisAgree Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Willie Menda, Bangalore

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    The hooligans knew as to what exactly to vandalize!

    DisAgree Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Nawaz, Udupi/ Kuwait

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Indian laws are not strict against the acts that are intended to deliberately hurting feelings of people of any particular religion. The perpetrator is sure that he would not be affected in way by the current laws.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangaluru/Kuwait

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    These anti-minority goons and haters of Christianity must be caught and punished appropriately.
    My belief is that these scoundrels may not go un -punished even not the law of the land but in the court of Creator, the God almighty. I wish that their hands must be afflicted with some disease (leprosy) for their wrong/grave deeds.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mala Menezes, Mangalore

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Christianity has had--and is having--on the world from a cultural, historical, political, and personal standpoint. They have contributed immensely in all these fields.
    majority of hospitals, educational institutions, orphanages and old age homes are run by them…
    THEN WHY THIS DISCRIMINATION.???

    DisAgree [3] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Clifford, Mangalore

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Install the cctv and appoint a watchman to every church in the city. Most of the problems will be solved.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • David Pais, Mangalore

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    recover all damages of da church from da pettha govt., Immediately

    DisAgree [11] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jessie D Souza, kemman

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    How stupid to call a `church vandalising' as burglary. The police is same as the government of the day trumpeting something that make the whole world disbelieve but they don't budge. It is a ploy to suppress and persecute minority citizens of the country and show as sympathisers of persecuted minorities outside the country.

    All Christians must unite and stage protest and pray that the cries of the minority religions be heard.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Wilfred J. Lewis, Matpady-Brahmavar/ New York, USA

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Once police nab the invaders of Church, clear picture of motive behind this Church break in will emerge.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Valerian DSouza, Udupi / Mumbai

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    When destructive speeches and activities are supported and fascinated by and large, this is what happens!
    Evil will get encouragement and start destroying constructive people and their organisation, who build good civic societies and nation. Nation will find it impossible to control.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dev, Mangalore

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Many decorative stands are down which doesn't contain any money or cash inside

    DisAgree [2] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vishal, Mangalore

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Where is there to rob or steal in a Church? The Police Commissioner is talking through his hat. This appears to be an act of some fanatic to spread communal hatred.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • David Pais, Mangalore

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    y no 144 section & curfew imposed 2 nab da terrorists or killed da miscreants?????????

    DisAgree [8] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Hypocrite ...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Leo Lasrado, Mangalore/Singapore

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Forgive them LORD for they know not what they are doing.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anand R, Mangalore

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Let the canon law protect them..

    DisAgree [27] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Arun, Kankanady

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    People clearly who protects whom. No national law or religious law protects culprits and criminals, Saving culprits and criminals done by some politicians and misleading leaders. Canon law is not to save criminals or culprits, It helps people to protect the right and follow the national law.
    Forgiving the people is humanity, You need great courage the good heart to forgive those who trouble is you and act against you.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Nawaz, Udupi/ Kuwait

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Leo,
    You should not complain if you want God to forgive them of their sins.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peshu, Manipal

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Leo Sir, Archbishop is calling Police to take necessary action.

    Your statement of "forgiveness" is one-step ahead of his complaint

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    The Culprits will burn in Hell ...

    DisAgree [13] Agree [35] Reply Report Abuse

  • Cynthia, Kirem

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    What is hell? Where we live we can make it as heaven and "hell" as well. They will burn here only on this land.... Jossey sir...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joe Gonsalves, Mangalore

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    According to Church law this is a sacrilege. Hope the Police will take serious notice of this serious crime and apprehend the culprit and suitably deal with him.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Even an Idiot will know there is no wealth in the Church ...

    DisAgree [3] Agree [49] Reply Report Abuse

  • Haneef, Mangalore

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Join the CAA protests or in future no churches will be safe!

    DisAgree [26] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sharun Dsouza, Manglore

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    But CAA is for those, who church, temples destroyed in Islamic republic of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan! We completely support it. The more you protest, the more its helping BJP.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Arman, Dubai

    Tue, Jan 21 2020

    Being too scared & Reporting to roam won't stop church attacks in India. Come to streets like others & fight against hooliganism.

    Have some courage to talk against injustice. Amith sha didn't excludes you in NRC but it won't make you safe once it implemented.

    Stop being inactive and Gain some names to write history for next generation.

    DisAgree [16] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • John Tauro, M'lore

    Wed, Jan 22 2020

    Don’t link this issue with NRC or as a condition to win sympathy or to gain anybody’s support. We know CAA and NRC better than street politicians. We don't need any political support to fight hooliganism.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • G Veer S, Nagpur

    Tue, Jan 21 2020

    No valuables and money has been stolen then how this police officer concluded that the motive of break-in was theft without catching the culprits and investigating.

    BJP is slowly spreading its terror activities against Christians to make them vulnerable to vote them by victimizing.
    BJP mantra is either support us or be deported.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [51] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Church break-in - Bengaluru archbishop Peter Machado cries sacrilege, differs with police



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