Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - A new church as a symbol of openness to God and to the world as a place of prayer and dialogue, encounter and promotion of peace: in this spirit on Sunday December 3 Archbishop Anthony Anandarayar of the diocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore, consecrated a new church dedicated to the Sacred Heart in Thennangudi, Karaikkal, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Present also Salesian Father Stanislaus Swamikannu from Chennai, civil authorities, twenty priests and about 200 Catholics from 17 surrounding villages.
Anti-Christian attitudes and even violence is quite frequent in Tamil Nadu and those present for the consecration of the new Catholic church expressed the hope that it would be a place not only prayer, service of others, charity, but also to foster dialogue among Christians of different confessions and friendship among believers of all faiths.
The Christians of India are about 23.4 million, 2.3% of a population of a little more than one billion. Very active in the field of social assistance, health care and education particularly for poorer citizens social, they are often lauded by the civil authorities. However they also encounter hostility and violence on the part of fundamentalist Hindu groups which want India to be ruled by a one nation, one culture and one religion ideology. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 7/12/2006 righe 24 parole
