Mumbai (AsiaNews) - "I am saddened and shocked by the desecration of four statues of the Virgin in Agra. Gestures like this hurt our religious feelings, and are a deep laceration in the secular fabric of society and a serious stain on the idea of secularism in our Constitution". This is the reaction Card. Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Council of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), entrusted to AsiaNews in the aftermath of the vandalism committed against the church of St. Mary Agra on April 17.
A group of unidentified persons destroyed four statues of Mother Mary, even tying a dog collar around the neck of one of the sculptures. Immediately alerted, the police are investigating a series of phone numbers, which connected to the local network at the time of the attack.
"As a former Archbishop of Agra - says Card. Gracias to AsiaNews - I know that the small Christian community shares cordial and harmonious with members of all communities. In addition, our educational institutions serve the country and people of all faiths and caste, without discrimination".