Indian Catholics arrested, denied bail after defending Mass from anti-Christian mob

(LifeSiteNews) — Catholics in India continue to face the discriminatory effects of newly enacted “anti-conversion laws.”

In India’s desert state of Rajasthan, nine Catholics have been denied bail for a second time after spending several weeks in jail for stopping protesters who interrupted a Mass in early May.

During the event, a mob stormed a Catholic church in the region, accusing the faithful of attempting to “convert” the local population. Allegations of conversion have become central to newly enacted laws in India, though many Catholics claim the laws are widely abused by the public.

In an interview with EWTN News, Bishop Devprasad John Ganawa of Udaipur emphasized his frustration with the implementation of these new laws by the local government.

“We feel frustrated that our people were denied bail a second time today on the false allegation of conversion,” noted Bishop Ganawa.

“When the hooligans disrupted the Mass on May 1 shouting ‘conversion,’ our people forced them out. Instead of registering a criminal case against the intruders, the police have charged our people with ‘conversion and attempt to murder’ and arrested nine Catholics of Bandaria Parish.”

These charges left Father Arvind Amliyar, the officiating priest at the time of the incident, completely “shocked.”

“During the Communion time over a dozen people stormed into the church, shouted ‘conversion,’ and started filming with cameras,” recounted Fr. Amliyar. “When one of them took out a knife, our people snatched it and chased them out.”

“Soon police came and what happened then shocked me. Instead of finding out what had happened, they arrested four Catholics the same night.”

After being pressured by a large Hindu mob, police arrested five more Catholics during the same night.

The denial of bail comes amid a series of new laws in India aimed at discouraging religious conversion, laws that many say are being used to indiscriminately jail Catholics.

In March, bills were passed in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh which aimed to stop alleged “forced” conversions by Church officials. The bills, however, lack neutrality in the eyes of Catholic leaders.

Catholic bishops said the new bills risk promoting “suspicion, division, and injustice.”

“The law appears to disproportionately affect minority communities, raising serious concerns about both its intent and its implementation,” noted the bishops.

Prior to this, two Catholic nuns were arrested in India for supposedly forcing conversion on three female acquaintances. The charges are denied not only by Church leaders but also contradicted by official documents.