2018 is Showing Signs of Being a Year of Worry for Christians in India

In one of the most serious incidents, in Rajasthan, 20 Hindu nationalist militants attacked a Christmas celebration, beating the faithful. Another attack, in Madhya Pradesh, involved a handful of thirty Catholics singing Christmas songs. After these events, the president of the Indian Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, declared: “The trust of Indian Christians in the government is coming to an end.”

In a press release published for the New Year, Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary general of the Indian Bishops’ Conference, voiced his worry at this “series of events that threatens the very charisma of India”.

On December 28, 2017, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad – Hindu World Council – assembled in Orissa, announced its plans to intensify its “Back to Home” campaign – “Ghar Whaspi”. This campaign aims to force Indians to convert to Hinduism, like what was done in 2014. That year, nearly 4,000 Christians were “converted back” to idolatry on Christmas Day.