While Christianity is often portrayed as a faith grounded in equality and compassion, divisions run deep within it — across the world, sects such as Catholic, Protestant, and Pentecostal often draw sharp lines and discriminate against one another. In India, this hierarchy takes an even more troubling form: caste-based discrimination.
Despite the perception created that Christianity is an egalitarian faith, the instances of caste-based discrimination indicates otherwise. In this report, we detail 21 incidents from 2008 to 2025 that highlights systemic and persistent caste-based discrimination against Dalit Christians in India. These cases, spanning Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and beyond, reveal practices of segregation, exclusion, and violence that mirror the very societal hierarchies many converts sought to escape.
The report gains timely significance against recent remarks by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who asserted that lack of equality within Hinduism drives conversions. However, these incidents starkly illustrate that conversion does not automatically grant liberation from caste prejudice. From judicial interventions to protests and institutional admissions, the struggle for dignity within the church continues, challenging the narrative of religious inclusivity.
#1 Supreme Court Takes Up Parish Discrimination (2025)
The Supreme Court of India agreed to hear a landmark petition concerning caste discrimination within a Catholic parish in Kottapalayam, Tamil Nadu. Filed by Dalit Christians from the Trichy district, the petition accused St. Mary Magdalene Parish of excluding Dalits from annual celebrations and enforcing segregated burial practices. Unlike other congregants, Dalit Catholics were denied the right to hold funeral masses or prayers inside the church. A bench led by Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra issued notices to the Tamil Nadu government and church authorities, demanding responses by April 15.
#2 Alleged Church Exclusion In Kottapalayam (2023)
Dalit Christians in Kottapalayam village, part of the Kumbakonam Catholic diocese, reported blatant caste discrimination in local church activities. They alleged that only members of influential, non-Dalit communities were permitted to become church members, thereby excluding Dalits from participation. Additionally, Dalits were barred from making financial contributions or subscriptions, effectively marginalizing them from the spiritual and administrative life of the parish. These accusations highlight how socioeconomic, and caste hierarchies permeate religious participation, denying Dalit Christians equal standing and voice within their faith community.
#3 Festival Ban In Trichy Church (2023)
In Ayyampatti, Trichy, Dalit Christians accused St. Mary Magdalene Church of prohibiting them from attending annual festivals and using the common community hall for weddings or family functions. The parish reportedly recognized only dominant-caste families as official members, institutionalizing their exclusion.
#4 Caste Bias At Loyola College (2022)
Lawrence D’Cruz, a former student and employee of Loyola College, Chennai, run by the Society of Jesus, alleged caste-based discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination. He claimed he was assigned menial tasks, subjected to abuse for his Dalit identity, and sexually harassed. His termination in April 2022 was viewed as retaliation. Other individuals also came forward with similar experiences, suggesting a pattern of discrimination against Dalit Christians within the institution.
#5 Protest Over Archbishop Appointment (2022)
The Dalit Christian Liberation Movement (DCLM) protested in Chennai against the appointment of a non-Dalit archbishop, Francis Kalist, in the Pondicherry-Cuddalore archdiocese. The demonstration highlighted broader discontent with the Catholic Church’s disregard for Dalit representation in leadership roles. DCLM leaders expressed frustration that the church continued to ignore the voices of Dalit Christians in Tamil Nadu, perpetuating upper-caste dominance in ecclesiastical hierarchies and denying Dalits a role in decision-making processes.
#6 Silenced Nuns Speak Out (2021)
Sister Robency Amal Helen, a member of the Idente Missionaries, publicly stated that Dalit nuns and former Dalit Christians face significant discrimination within the Catholic Church. Despite the church’s teachings on equality, she revealed that caste-based prejudice remains rampant, affecting the experiences and opportunities of Dalit individuals within religious orders.
#7 Appeal To Pope Francis (2021)
In June 2021, the National Council of Dalit Christians (NCDC) wrote to Pope Francis and Vatican authorities highlighting the rampant practice of untouchability and caste discrimination in Catholic churches across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. In its letter, the NCDC urged the Pope to intervene and issue a directive to end these practices. The council alleged that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), the Council of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), along with all 18 Bishops of the dioceses in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, were wilfully allowing both visible and invisible forms of caste discrimination to persist in the Church.
#8 Madras High Court Issues Notices Over Caste Bias in Tamil Nadu Churches (2021)
The Madras High Court issued notices to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), 18 bishops of Tamil Nadu, and ministries under the Central, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry governments over allegations of caste-based discrimination in Catholic churches. The action followed a writ petition by Gnanapragasam Mathew, convenor of the Tamil Nadu Dalit Christian Alliance, who detailed discriminatory practices across 151 villages. The petition alleged systematic exclusion and segregation of Dalit Catholics, prompting judicial scrutiny into entrenched inequalities within the Church.
#9 Dalit Catholics Protest Appointment Of Non-Dalit Bishop In Salem (2021)
In May 2021 Dalit Catholic groups in Tamil Nadu expressed strong discontent over the Vatican’s decision to appoint a non-Dalit bishop for the Salem diocese, which has a predominantly Dalit congregation. On May 31, 2021, Pope Francis named Father Arulselvam Rayappan, a seminary professor belonging to the Vanniyar caste, as the new bishop. Dalit leaders argued that the move ignored long-standing demands for Dalit representation in higher Church leadership and reinforced systemic caste discrimination.
#10 Dalit Christians Demand Dalit Archbishop In Pondicherry–Cuddalore (2021)
In February 2021, the Dalit Christian Liberation Movement (NCLM) rallied in Villupuram demanding the Catholic Church appoint a Dalit Archbishop for the Pondicherry–Cuddalore Archdiocese. Dr. Prof. Mary John, head of NCLM, warned that if the demand was ignored, Dalit Christians would resist the appointment of a non-Dalit bishop. He emphasized that the Church must act with sincerity in its leadership selections. Protesters highlighted decades of systematic discrimination against Dalit Christians in education, employment, entry into priesthood, and episcopal appointments, accusing the Church of treating Dalits as outcasts since the diocese’s inception.
#11 Dalit Christians Protest In Kumbakonam Demanding Dalit Bishop (2021)
In February 2021, Dalit Christians organized a protest march in Kumbakonam Diocese against caste-based discrimination within the Church. Organized by eight Dalit Christian groups, the march highlighted long-standing grievances over exclusion in Church affairs and leadership. Protesters submitted a memorandum to the bishop and diocesan officials, demanding the appointment of a Dalit bishop to ensure fair representation. They argued that despite forming a significant part of the Catholic population, Dalits continued to face systemic discrimination in the Church’s hierarchy, education, and opportunities.
#12 Dalit Christians Protest At Pondicherry-Cuddalore Archdiocese (2020)
In December 2020, the Dalit Christian Liberation Movement (DCLM) staged a protest in front of the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry-Cuddalore at Puducherry. The demonstrators voiced strong opposition to the exclusion of Dalit Christians from Church leadership and management. They alleged systemic discrimination in the appointment of priests and demanded that Dalits be given equal representation in ecclesiastical affairs. Protesters argued that despite forming a large section of the Catholic population, Dalits continued to be marginalized.
#13 Honour Killing in Kerala (2018)
A Kerala court declared the murder of Dalit Christian Kevin Joseph an honour killing. Joseph was killed in 2018 for marrying an upper-caste Christian woman just 3 days after the wedding. Fourteen individuals, including the woman’s father and brother, were charged.
#14 Sivaganga Diocese Discrimination (2018)
In April 2018, the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) released a report titled “Dalit Christians Crucified” alleging widespread caste discrimination against Dalit Christians in the Sivaganga Diocese. The report detailed practices of untouchability, including separate churches, graveyards, and the denial of priestly appointments for Dalits. It further alleged that church-run schools, colleges, and hospitals hired staff only from the non-Dalit Christian community. TNUEF also reported that festivals were organized separately for Dalit and non-Dalit Christians.
#15 Church Admits Dalit Discrimination (2017)
Cardinal Oswald Gracias acknowledged that Dalit Christians face heightened discrimination due to their untouchable status. His remarks during the National Council of Dalit Christians’ meeting in Mumbai marked a significant admission by the church hierarchy.
#16 Historic Policy Document (2016)
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India released a policy document titled Policy for Dalit Empowerment in the Catholic Church in India, admitting that Dalit Christians faced untouchability and negligible leadership representation. It urged dioceses to submit plans to eliminate discrimination within a year. This was the first official acknowledgment of the issue by the church.
#17 Attack On Dalit Bishop (2016)
In April 2016, three Catholic priests were arrested in connection with the attack and kidnapping of Dalit Bishop Cuddapah Prasad Gallela. The incident occurred on 25 April 2016, when Bishop Gallela and his driver, Vijay Kumar, were blindfolded, beaten, and taken to an undisclosed location, where a ransom of £50,000 was demanded. The arrested priests belonged to the Reddy caste. The South India Dalit Catholic Association criticized the Catholic Church hierarchy in India for its silence and inaction following the assault, highlighting concerns over caste bias within church structures.
#18 Dalits Face Discrimination In Tamil Nadu Churches (2016)
In June 2016, a pilot report, Thadam Thedi, highlighted widespread discrimination against Dalit Christians in Catholic and Protestant churches in Tamil Nadu. Although Dalits account for 22,40,726 of the 39,64,360 Catholics, they are excluded from key positions in church administration. Of the 18 Archbishops in Tamil Nadu, only two are Dalits. G. Mathew, a committee member behind the report, revealed that Dalits often have separate cemeteries and funeral carts, are denied access to common church roads, and in some cases, their bodies are excluded from religious rituals, underscoring systemic caste-based discrimination.
#20 Dalit Christians Face Barriers In Eraiyur Church Festival (2016)
In May 2016, Dalit Christians at Our Lady of Rosary Church, Eraiyur, faced discrimination during the church festival car procession. The local Vanniyar Christian community refused to allow Dalits to enter the church via the main entrance and opposed the car procession passing through Dalit streets. Dalits had long fought for the procession route, which was mandated by a 2010 Madras High Court order. The court had directed the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) to hold a peace meeting and issue orders ensuring that the festival car procession could traverse public roads, including Dalit areas, without obstruction.
#21 Deadly Caste Clash At Eraiyur Church (2008)
In March 2008, a violent clash erupted between Vanniyar Christian and Dalit Christian communities in Eraiyur village, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to three others. The unrest followed rising tensions as some Dalit Christians began an indefinite fast protesting discrimination within the parish by the dominant Vanniyar community. The confrontation highlighted deep-rooted caste divisions within the local Catholic Church, turning the village into a site of bloodshed. Authorities intervened to restore order, but the incident underscored the persistent struggle of Dalit Christians against systemic exclusion and caste-based marginalization.
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