SATNA, India — A group of 32 Catholic seminary carolers in the Satna district of Madhya Pradesh were detained Dec. 14, 2017, following allegations they were involved in religious conversions. The carolers were visiting Christian institutions and singing carols.
National Catholic Reporter sources said police officials took the carolers into custody following a complaint from Hindu activists. Eight priests who went to the station to inquire about the seminaries also were taken into custody, sources said.
The carolers come from St. Ephrem’s Theological College in Satna. Groups of seminarians have caroled in neighboring villages during the Advent and Christmas season since the college opened in 1992.
Protestant Christian communities have become a frequent target of Hindu extremists in India, which ranks 15th on Open Doors’ Open Doors’ 2017 World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. (TAB)
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