Catholics in Mumbai condemn vandalism of a Jesus statue in Parel, urging strict action, protection of religious sites, and unity.
Newsroom (10/06/2026 Gaudium Press ) Catholics in Mumbai have strongly condemned the vandalism and desecration of a roadside statue of Jesus Christ in the city’s Parel suburb, calling for swift legal action against those responsible and greater protection for places of worship.
The incident occurred on June 7, when unidentified individuals damaged the statue located outside Holy Cross Church. The act has sparked widespread outrage among local parishioners and drawn a sharp response from the Bombay Archdiocese, the largest Catholic jurisdiction in India.
Father Francis Noronha, parish priest of Holy Cross Church, expressed the deep emotional impact of the incident on the community. “This insane act has deeply hurt the religious sentiments of our parishioners, who gathered around this statue, located on the roadside outside the church, for prayers and veneration,” he said.
The Archdiocese of Bombay issued a strongly worded statement on June 9, condemning what it described as deliberate acts of vandalism targeting sacred Christian sites. Father Nigel Barrett, spokesperson for the archdiocese, warned that such incidents cannot be dismissed as isolated acts.
“These are not isolated acts of mischief, but targeted attacks on the religious sentiments of an entire community and a direct assault on the spirit of peaceful coexistence that has long defined this great city,” Barrett said.
The Parel incident follows a similar episode less than a month earlier in Andheri East, where a roadside Cross near the historic St John the Baptist Church—dating back to the 16th century—was vandalized twice on May 13 and 14. Those incidents prompted police intervention, leading to increased protection for approximately 15 roadside crosses in the area.
Freestanding statues and crosses are a familiar part of Mumbai’s urban landscape, particularly in neighborhoods with historical Catholic roots that trace back to the Portuguese era of the 16th century. These symbols are not merely objects of devotion but serve as enduring markers of faith, history, and cultural identity. For generations, local residents have prayed before them, seeking protection from calamities and safe journeys at sea and on land.
Church authorities have called for a thorough investigation into the Parel vandalism and urged law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice. The archdiocese also appealed to the government to treat such incidents with the seriousness they warrant under the law.
In its statement, the archdiocese emphasized resilience and unity in the face of such provocations. “We wish to make it clear that the Catholic community of Mumbai will not be intimidated and our faith is not diminished by the breaking of stone and concrete,” it said. “We will continue to pray, to serve, and to stand in solidarity with all people of goodwill.”
The Church has further appealed to Mumbai’s citizens to uphold the values of pluralism and tolerance, which have long been regarded as the foundation of the city’s social fabric. Barrett underscored this message, stating, “An attack on one community’s sacred spaces is an attack on the idea of Mumbai itself.”
Civil society voices have also echoed the concern. Godfrey Pimenta, a Catholic lawyer and trustee of the Watchdog Foundation, condemned the desecration and confirmed that a formal complaint was filed with the police on June 8.
“Any act of desecration directed against a religious symbol is not merely an act of vandalism but a serious assault on the religious sentiments of an entire community,” Pimenta said. He warned that such incidents have the potential to disrupt communal harmony and create unnecessary social tensions.
Concerns over a possible pattern have been raised by community leaders. Melwyn Fernandes, general secretary of the Association of Concerned Christians, described the recent series of incidents as deeply troubling.
“We are witnessing a disturbing pattern whereby statues, crosses and other religious symbols associated with the Christian community are being repeatedly targeted and vandalized at various locations,” Fernandes said.
As authorities investigate the June 7 incident, the Catholic community in Mumbai continues to demand accountability while urging broader efforts to safeguard the city’s longstanding ethos of religious coexistence.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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