Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New Delhi (Fides Service) - The Catholic Bishops of India have issued a statement condemning recent attacks by Hindu fundamentalists on Christians and Christian structures. In the statement, a copy of which was sent to Fides, the Bishops recall that every place of worship demands respect and they voice concern for what would appear to be a new wave of attacks on India’s Christians .
The most recent episode mentioned in the report happened on 26 August in the central eastern state of Orissa in the village of Rakia which is in the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar. A group of Hindu fundamentalists attacked and desecrated the parish church of Our Lady off Charity and went on the attack homes of Christian families.
The Parish priest, Father Alphonse Baliarsingh who cares for about 5,000 Catholics, said that a crowd of fanatics about 300 broke into the church breaking down the door. After smashing a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Crucifix and other holy objects they destroyed the tabernacle and then made a bonfire and burned holy books and vestments. Besides attacking the church the vandals threw stones at the windows of the priests’ house and then turned on several nearby homes of Christian families. Father Baliarsingh, who is also Vicar General of the diocese, said it was terrifying. The men, a large group, appeared to be out of their mind and they remained in the area until late that night. He said that days earlier a Catholic school in the same village had received threats and young Christian men, at least 200, staged a public protest demonstration calling for protection and intervention by the civil authorities. He thinks the attack on the church could be a reaction to the protest.
“Temples churches and mosques are holy sites and as such they should be respected”, said Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, President of the Indian Bishops Conference. And Bishop Percival Fernandez, Secretary General of the Conference, added: “Profanation of holy places is contrary to the culture of our country. India is known for its character of religious pluralism and people who commit these hateful acts of violating holy sites are offending humanity”.
Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar thinks the attack on the church was organised and premeditated. He told Fides: “Like all of Christ’s followers, the Christians in Orissa are peace-loving people who respect the religious practices of other believers. Non-Christian citizens should not let themselves be manipulated by fundamentalists”. The Catholic Archbishop has called on the people of Orissa to build religious tolerance and social harmony. He also officially reported the violence to the Minister of Internal Affairs Shiv Raj Patil, asking for an investigation into the incident.
The Bishops voice concern for another serious episode of violence on 22 August in the east Indian state of Jharkhand. Pallottine Father John Sunderam, parish priest at Kuru parish in the archdiocese of Ranchi, was attacked is now in a coma after being stabbed by a group of eight criminals who, it would appear, intended to burgle the church. The assistant priest, Father Albinio Tirkey was wounded while trying to defend his confrere. According to local sources recently Father Sunderam had resisted threats and attempts at extortion on the part of unidentified men, suspected of being members of Hindu fundamentalist groups.
Jharkhand is governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which was defeated in national elections in April this year. The BJP propagates a nationalist ideology of one country and one religion and it is backed by fundamentalist movements which try to camper social services and development programmes promoted by the local Catholic Church .
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 30/8/2004 lines 48 words 492)
