In southern India, police have closed down a Catholic parish because of physical clashes between two competing groups in the parish over the language that will be used to celebrate Mass. Indian Catholic reported yesterday that Kannada and Tamil Catholics from Mother of God Parish in Jakkalli (2200 km south of New Delhi) are involved in the dispute that has found its way into court as well.
Last July, the Diocese insisted that the parish follow the diocesan policy of conducting Sunday Masses only in Kannada, but with one reading and two hymns in Tamil. That led Tamils to boycott Mass and to file a lawsuit over the issue. On Dec. 13, a local court upheld their right to have Masses in Tamil and ordered the diocese not to interfere. This led the parish to resume its earlier practice of conducting the first Mass in Kannada and the second in Tamil. On Dec. 24 and 25, police were present at both Masses to keep order, but when they left youths from the two groups clashed.
