BENGALURU: The All Karnataka Catholic Christians Kannada Association has raised serious concerns over what it describes as the disproportionate control of coastal Konkani groups in the administration of the Catholic Church across the state. Association president A. Isaac said Kannada-speaking Christians continue to be marginalised, their language overlooked, and their clergy denied equitable opportunities within church structures.
Speaking at a press conference at the City Press Club on Friday, Isaac pointed out that Karnataka has 14 church regions, yet only the Chikmagalur Diocese is led by a bishop from the Kannadiga community. He alleged that promotions for Kannada priests are being stalled due to the dominance of coastal-origin voting groups within the Church’s governance mechanisms.
Isaac also criticised Archbishop Peter Machado and former Archbishop Bernard Moras, stating that neither has addressed long-pending issues affecting Kannada Christians. According to him, crucial positions—including administrative roles, commissions, seminary training centres, and prominent church institutions—remain concentrated in the hands of the “coastal Konkani lobby,” leaving Kannada Christians feeling excluded in their own state.
He said the situation has worsened following recent remarks made by Roy Castellino from Mangaluru, which he termed “insensitive, damaging, and unauthorised.” The comments, he said, have further strained relations within the community.
Calling for urgent steps, Isaac urged the Supreme Patriarch to enforce the 3/1983 circular across Karnataka without delay. He demanded an end to what he called the “coastal monopoly,” and asserted that, just as neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu and Telangana prioritise local leadership, Karnataka too must ensure that its church hierarchy reflects its linguistic and cultural identity.
Isaac emphasised that Kannada should be given precedence in worship across all churches, and that spiritual leaders serving the state’s faithful must be drawn from the Kannada clergy. He also renewed the long-standing demand to elevate the historic Saint Peter’s Guru Math to the status of the Karnataka Provincial Guru Math.
Association vice-president Antony Raju C., treasurer George Kumar Y., and Kannada activists Chandrashekhar and Channegowda were present at the briefing.
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