VIJAYAWADA:Taking serious exception to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s comments on Mother Teresa and increasing attacks on churches in the country, AP Federation of Churches has decided to take out a massive demonstration in Vijayawada on March 3.
Speaking to mediapersons here Sunday, Moderator of the Church of South India and Bishop of Krishna-Godavari Diocese of the Church of South India Govada Dyvasirvadam condemned the remarks of RSS chief and said they were most reprehensible. Persons in responsible positions should not hurt the sentiments of people in the country and the world, who hold Mother Theresa in high esteem, he said.
“Mother Teresa was a personification of service to humanity and at no time had she made any effort to convert anyone. Is doing service to humanity wrong? Were all those who received help from her Christians? It was a most irresponsible remark which had hurt people’s feelings,” he said while recalling his experiences at Shishu Bhavan and Missionaries of Charity during his student days in Kolkata.
Monsignor M Chinappa of Vijaywada Catholic Diocese and rector of Gunadala shrine, chancellor J John Raju condemning the increasing attacks on Churches, noted that India is secular country and freedom of religion is a fundamental right. “It is not proper for some party leaders or those from associated bodies to criticise Mother Teresa, who spent her entire life helping the poor and destitute. They should apologise for their remark,” they said.
They called upon Christians of various denominations in the region to participate in the massive rally, which will commence at 10 am on Tuesday from St Pauls Cathedral near Nirmala High School.
The rally will pass through Pinnamaneni Poly Clinic Road and after ‘Palabhishekam’ of Mother Teresa statue at Siddartha College Centre, it will continue till sub-collector’s office and a memorandum will be submitted to the officials.