Following the decision of the Anatongre Village Council (AVC), Anatongre Citizens Union (ACU) and Anatongre Students’ Union (ASU) to “not allow or establish Catholic Church” in the village, Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN) has appealed to Anatongre Village (Kiphire district), leaders to allow “reason and goodwill” to prevail.
CAN also implored the state government to address the inter-denominational issue that has been affecting the village since 2010.
In a press release, CAN president Nosazol Charles and secretary general Elias T. Lotha termed as “repulsive and inhuman” the decision of AVC, ACU and ASU who decided to jointly respond to the district administration urging it “not to issue order till” a report regarding the establishment or construction of the Catholic Church at Anatongree village in the interest of the public.
CAN reminded that the Catholic at Anatongre was “violently vandalized” by the villagers belonging to “Baptist alignment” on July 9, 2010.
It also reminded that the district administration had on May 23, 2012 made it clear that “such local resolutions” was illegal.
As deadlock continued, the administration has also issued directives to the village council “not to interfere in any form the fundamental right…to practice and profess any religion/denomination in the village including the right to construct religious structure/churches.”