The Archbishop of Goa and Daman on Wednesday raised alarm over what he described as growing insecurity among minority communities in India.
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão warned that recent attacks, particularly against Christians, threaten the country’s constitutional and moral foundations.
In a New Year 2026 message issued Dec. 31, the prelate, who heads the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India and the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, said incidents reported during Christmas celebrations across the country point to a troubling erosion of religious freedom.
“As is my custom, I wish to take the opportunity at the dawning of another year to wish all our readers, particularly from Goa, a New Year full of the Almighty’s blessings in their lives and endeavours,” Ferrão said, offering prayers “for the gifts of peace to our families, harmony to our communities and unity to our State and our Nation.”
Alongside the greetings, the cardinal voiced “deep anguish” over attacks affecting minority communities, particularly Christians, describing them as “a painful testimony” to a growing sense of fear and insecurity.
Such incidents, he said, “vitiate the moral fabric of our Nation, which has traditionally been peace-loving and encouraging of its diverse cultures, religions and traditions.”
The warning comes amid a documented spike in anti-Christian incidents across India during December 2025, particularly targeting Christmas celebrations.
The National Lawyers Forum of Religious and Priests (NLFRP) said the incidents form part of a wider pattern of intimidation and violence.
“These incidents are neither isolated nor spontaneous. They reflect a disturbing and systematic pattern of intimidation, criminalization of faith practices, disruption of worship, and economic and cultural pressure carried out by extremist Hindutva forces with near total impunity,” the forum said in a statement.
According to the NLFRP, law enforcement agencies have repeatedly failed to intervene, warning that “in some cases their active complicity represents a grave abdication of the State’s constitutional duty.”
The group documented arrests of Christians following prayer meetings in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, the denial of permission for Christmas carol singing in parts of Madhya Pradesh until court intervention, and the disruption of a Christmas lunch for visually impaired students in Jabalpur, where a visually impaired woman was verbally abused and physically harassed while baseless allegations of forced conversion were made.
The forum also cited incidents in Kerala, Delhi, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh involving harassment of children, women, clergy, vendors, and tribal Christians, as well as mob violence, arson, and intimidation in public spaces.
These incidents, the NLFRP said, collectively violate constitutional guarantees of equality, freedom, and religion, adding that public participation by senior political leaders in Christmas events “remain hollow symbolism unless accompanied by firm action against those perpetrating violence and intimidation on the ground.”
The forum urged urgent federal intervention, accountability for police inaction, and an end to the misuse of anti-conversion laws, warning that continued silence would embolden extremist elements and further erode constitutional governance.
Cardinal Ferrão warned that the violence not only inflicts pain on Christian communities but also undermines the country’s core values, calling the attacks “a blatant disregard for the sacred values India has always stood for.”
He pointed to constitutional guarantees that ensure the “free and fair expression of the practice of one’s religion,” expressing concern that some communities continue to be persecuted for celebrating their most important religious festivals.
The cardinal further observed that this persecution often occurs “with the tacit approval of the authorities.”
Looking ahead to the new year, Ferrão appealed to government authorities to uphold their responsibilities under the Constitution.
“As we venture into the Year 2026, we appeal to the concerned authorities at all levels, to own their constitutional responsibility and moral accountability and to act decisively, and impartially,” he said.
He added that holding perpetrators accountable is necessary to restore public confidence in “the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution of our great Nation.”
Ferrão also called on citizens to play an active role in resisting division and promoting unity.
He urged “the overwhelming majority of our fellow countrymen — who continue to stand for harmony, justice and mutual respect — to join hands to counter the divisive forces and uphold the unity of our Nation.”
