The Bishops of India, along with Indian Christians, have decried the brutal rape of a nun trying to stop thieves last week.
According to Fides, the Indian bishops said in a statement, “Physical violence inflicted on religious women, the rape of an old and sick nun, the desecration of consecrated hosts, are ruthless and inhumane acts, of which all citizens of India should be ashamed.”
The tragic incidents had occurred in the school of Jesus and Mary in Ranaghat, in the state of West Bengal. Eight men, aged between 20 and 30, were arrested for the brutal attack the evening between March 13-14.
When the 75-year-old nun tried to stop them from their robberies, she was taken to a room and raped. The men stole cash, a cell phone, a laptop and a camera.
After two days of hospitalization, the sister was discharged from the hospital.
“The Bishops’ Conference of India,” the letter states, “has learned with deep sorrow and dismay what happened.”
“Condemning such ignoble acts, the Indian Bishops’ Conference expresses solidarity with the victims of violence and has asked the Prime Minister of West Bengal to take appropriate measures to bring the perpetrators to justice and provide adequate protection to the nuns and religious institutions.
The unselfish service of the sisters, it continued, “has contributed much to the development and progress of our dear nation.”
“We must speak out against the atrocities,” Indian Christians have said, stressing the government “has not taken concrete measures to protect Christians.”
This incident occurred a few weeks after the leader of the main group of Hindu extremists (RSS), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, criticized the charitable work of the Sisters of Mother Teresa in West Bengal. He accused them of “proselytizing.”
