Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kathmandu (Agenzia Fides) – There is disappointment and indignation in the Nepalese Christian community at the lack of land to bury their dead in Kathmandu. Faithful Christians, after months of waiting, “are ready to hold a demonstration, bringing the coffins and funeral urns outside the Parliament, Father Pius Perumana, Apostolic Pro-Vicar of Nepal to Fides. The Government, says the priest, “is showing uncertainty and ambiguity and has not resolved the problem that affects the area of Christian citizens' rights and of other religious minorities: that of being appointed places to bury their dead.”
After several meetings and promises, the authorities have not yet made a decision: Hindus oppose the concession of land (which is State-owned) near the Hindu temple of Pashupatinath. Meanwhile, the issue grows and Christians must resort to cremation or burying their dead on private land. Christians lament the lack of respect for their rights in a State, that, having abandoned the Hindu monarchy in 2006, “is currently secular and must guarantee equal rights for citizens of all religions,” notes Fr Pius. For this reason, some Protestant Christian leaders have announced a schedule of events and public activities to raise peoples' awareness (including Buddhist and Hindu) on the rights of religious minorities.
At a political level, the situation in Nepal is currently at a stalemate, given that there is no agreement between the major parties (the Maoists, Congress and others) to put up a new Prime Minister. All in all, notes the Pro-Vicar, “the Church is experiencing a mainly peaceful time: the absence of violence is beneficial to pastoral care. We would like to open new pastoral care centres in the north and west of the Country, with schools and small mobile clinics. This will be possible thanks to new religious orders who are asking to come to Nepal.” In this phase of national political life, while the new Constitution should be being drafted – to be approved by the end of May – the Catholic Church calls the State for full recognition, which involves legal status and the right to own property, schools and institutions. From 30 million people, Christians in Nepal are about 500,000, of which about 10,000 are Catholics. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 1/2/2011)
