NEW DELHI, AUG. 29, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Nearly 45,000 Catholic schools, colleges and educational institutions shut their doors in India today as a protest against the series of violent attacks waged against Christians this week in the state of Orissa.
Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, major archbishop of Ernakulam-Ankamaly and president of the episcopal conference of India, called for the protest as a way to voice concern against the attacks.
Christians have been on the receiving end of numerous acts of violence in Orissa after a Hindu leader was killed in the state's Kandhamal district last Saturday. The episcopal conference of India has put the number of deaths at 26.
Additionally, the cardinal exhorted the Catholic community in India to observe a day of prayer and fasting prayer on Sunday, Sept. 7, for the promotion of communal harmony and peace in India.
On that day the faithful of India will also remember Father Thomas Pandippally, 38, who was killed earlier this month in the eastern state of Andhra Pradesh.
A seven-member ecumenical delegation met Thursday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singhin to ask him to intervene and end the violence in Orissa.
"We are pained and shocked at the merciless killings and unabated violence against the Christians all over the state of Orissa," the delegation said in a statement. "The state government has failed to protect the Christians and other innocent people.
"The Christians in the state are living in continual tension and great fear. The law and order machinery is not at their rescue and they are living in pathetic conditions for the last four days.
"The houses, churches and prayer halls have to be rebuilt and a sense of security has to be restored in the hearts of Christians and other affected people."
Greatest disaster
"This is the greatest disaster in the history of a Christian community in India and more so in Orissa," the delegation added.
The federal government reported the same day in a press statement that it has been in touch with the government of the eastern Indian state, "and every effort would be made to restore normalcy."
The text revealed that Singh spoke with Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and "requested him to take immediate steps" to restore peace in the state.
The prime minister also advised Patnaik to provide "immediate relief to the affected people, particularly children," the statement added.
The violence began over the weekend after Hindu political leader Swami Laxmananada Saraswati and several of his companions were killed. Christians were blamed for killing the Hindu leader.
The Times of India reported today, however, that a leader of the People's Liberation Guerilla Army, a Maoist organization, claimed responsibility for the leader's death.
The eastern Indian state of Orissa has long been plagued by Christian-Hindu violence, as Christian missionaries work with poor tribal peoples of the region and Hindus accuse them of forcing or bribing conversions.
Saraswati, a leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad or World Hindu Council, was active in the campaign to stop villagers from converting to Christianity or to win them back.
ZE08082908 - 2008-08-29
Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-23506?l=english
Church Protests Attacks in Orissa
Shuts Down Schools, Calls for Day of Prayer
© Innovative Media, Inc.
Reprinting ZENIT's articles requires written permission from the editor.
 |
Send this to a friend |  |
Comment on this article |
 |
Printer-friendly format |  |
PDF format |
 |
Home |
