Indian church leaders form NFCI to counter rising anti-Christian violence, with reports showing at least two attacks per day nationwide.
Newsroom (11/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) Church leaders across India have established a new national body aimed at confronting what they describe as escalating persecution of Christians, as recent data indicates an average of at least two attacks on the community every day.
The National Federation of Churches in India (NFCI) was formally launched on May 8 during the Fourth National Ecumenical Bishops’ Fellowship Meeting in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The gathering brought together 45 bishops, church heads, and delegates representing Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, and other Christian traditions.
Organizers say the federation marks the first nationwide ecumenical initiative of its kind, designed to unify diverse Christian denominations under a common platform.
Leadership and Structure
Cardinal Anthony Poola of Hyderabad, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), will serve as chairman of the NFCI. Key conveners include Archbishop Joseph D’Souza, president of the Good Shepherd Church and the All-India Christian Council; Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt of Pala; and Bishop Vincent Vinod Kumar of the Church of South India.
Archbishop D’Souza described the initiative as a necessary response to worsening conditions. “The federation is the first ecumenical forum of its kind in India to combat escalating persecution of Christians,” he said, emphasizing the urgency of coordinated action. “We cannot just sit and pray.”
Addressing Systemic Challenges
According to its founders, the NFCI aims to tackle multiple challenges facing Christians in India. These include violent attacks on clergy and lay members, legal pressures under anti-conversion laws, and proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), which could further restrict access to foreign funding for church-run organizations.
Father Anthoniraj Thumma, national secretary of the CBCI’s office for dialogue and ecumenism, noted that while some national-level forums exist, none have previously unified all church leadership across denominations.
“The federation is aimed at presenting a united face of Christianity,” he said, adding that it seeks to function as a single voice while respecting the diversity of traditions within the Christian community.
A CBCI statement described the NFCI as an “umbrella organization” envisioned after two years of consultations and drafting.
Data Points to Escalating Incidents
Figures compiled by the United Christian Forum (UCF), a New Delhi-based ecumenical body, highlight a sharp increase in reported incidents over the past decade. Recorded cases rose from 151 in 2014 to 834 in 2024. By November 2025, 706 incidents had already been documented, with projections suggesting the annual total could approach 900.
The reported incidents span a wide range of abuses, including physical assaults, murders, sexual violence, intimidation, social boycotts, vandalism of religious sites, desecration of symbols, and disruptions of prayer services.
UCF data indicates that the scale of violence now averages at least two incidents per day nationwide. Uttar Pradesh in northern India and Chhattisgarh in central India have emerged as the most affected states.
Legal and Political Context
Christian groups have long expressed concern over anti-conversion laws enacted in 13 Indian states. While authorities maintain these laws prevent forced conversions, church leaders argue they are frequently misused to target clergy and believers with arrests and harassment.
The issue has gained prominence since 2014, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power. During this period, more than 20,000 FCRA licenses have been canceled or allowed to lapse, limiting the ability of many non-governmental organizations—especially those run by churches—to receive foreign funding.
A Minority Seeking Collective Voice
India’s Christian population numbers approximately 28 million, or about 2.3 percent of the country’s 1.4 billion people. Within this minority context, NFCI leaders say unity is essential to ensuring representation and safeguarding rights.
By bringing together multiple denominations under a single framework, the federation aims to strengthen advocacy, improve coordination, and respond more effectively to incidents of violence and legal challenges.
As incidents continue to rise, the NFCI’s formation signals a strategic shift—from fragmented responses to a unified national effort—by one of India’s smallest yet historically significant religious communities.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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