Karnataka election: Church not involved in Lingayat issue, says bishops’ body

An e-mail has been doing rounds on social media which speaks about the role of Roman Catholic Church in demanding a separate religion status for Lingayats

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) on Wednesday issued a clarification stating that there have been false allegations against the church for their involvement in lobbying for a separate religion status for the Lingayat community in Karnataka. The statement issued by CBCI comes two days ahead of Karnataka election to be held on May 12.

The statement issued by CBCI comes two days ahead of Karnataka election to be held on May 12. (HT FILE/PICTURE FOR REPRESENTATION)

An e-mail attributed to cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Bombay, has been doing rounds on social media which speaks about the role of Roman Catholic Church in demanding a separate religion status for Lingayats and nine steps to convert Lingayats to Catholicism.

The Karnataka government in March decided to declare Lingayats a minority religious group and include Veerashaviasas a part of the community. If the proposal gets an approval from the Central government, Lingayats will get additional benefits in education and employment, on par with religious minorities.

The e-mail addressed to Bernard Moras, archbishop of Bangalore, has cardinal Gracias’ name as the sender and secretary general of CBCI in the undersigned section. It says, “On December 21, 2013 the representatives of Holy See (the Pope) in Delhi held its first meeting with Karnataka’s ruling political leadership to press and urge them to grant separate religion status to Lingayats.”

However, bishop Theodore Mascarenhas, secretary general, CBCI, issuing the statement, said, “The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India nor cardinal Gracias will ever indulge in divisive tactics as indicated in that letter.”

He has also added that the circulation of such letter just before the Karnataka elections is a ‘disgraceful mischievous ploy’. “We reserve the right to take legal action against those involved in making and promoting that letter,” the statement adds.