The All India Catholic Union (AICU) has raised strong concern over the growing number of attacks on Christians across the country, warning that worship services are increasingly being criminalised under controversial anti-conversion laws.
At its annual general body meeting in Mangaluru, the 106-year-old organisation said such laws, currently enforced in around 12 states, have already been challenged in the Supreme Court for being unconstitutional and undermining India’s commitment to freedom of faith and expression.
In its resolutions, the AICU said developments in recent years had adversely affected religious minorities, Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis, who can secure equitable participation in national resources and governance only through transparent elections and a fair caste census.
The Union expressed concern over what it described as a growing “trust deficit” between the Election Commission of India and the public, urging the President, the judiciary and the Union government to restore faith in democratic institutions.
The AICU, led by National President Elias Vaz, also reviewed the national situation on religious minorities.
Between January and August 2025, it noted, 508 incidents of attacks on Christians were recorded, with Uttar Pradesh registering 123 cases and Chhattisgarh 117.
Despite this, FIRs were filed in only 36 cases, which the body said reflected “system apathy and complicity.”
The Union condemned efforts to disenfranchise Christian Adivasis by stripping them of Scheduled Tribe status and questioned attempts to revive the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act of 1978, describing it as an effort to curb the Christian community’s contributions to the state.
The AGM, inaugurated by Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U. T. Khadar and MLC Ivan D’Souza, also featured “Bandhutva,” an interfaith dialogue on compassion.
The keynote address was delivered by Mangalore Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha, with academic and literary figures including Prof. Rajaram Tholpady and noted Kannada writer Fatima Ralia among the speakers.
During the session, the AICU launched a new website and released a book by retired IPS officer John Shilshi on Manipur’s experience with AFSPA.
A crisis management training programme was also conducted, with 145 members from across India participating.
