Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bhubaneswar (Agenzia Fides) - “The situation of Christians in Orissa is difficult and tricky”, the Catholic Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar in the eastern Indian state of Orisssa, told Fides. Archbishop Raphael Cheenath SVD, was speaking after attacks on Christian churches, convents and schools last month (see Fides 21/1/2008). “Similar episodes could happen anywhere in India”, said the Archbishop, a Divine Word Missionary. Catholics in the archdiocese are still suffering from trauma and they live in fear: “The attacks were totally unjustified and sent reports and letters of protest to the authorities of the state and the central government. All India's Christians should unite to protest against anti-Christian violence”.
Archbishop Cheenath told Fides the situation is made worse because since the episodes of anti-Christian violence in December, "neither Caritas nor other NGOs have been allowed into the affected area to observe, document, listen to eyewitnesses as well as to help the people whose homes and other properties were destroyed ”. Christians feel deserted and neglected, he said.
“The majority of Hindus condemned the attacks and expressed sympathy and solidarity towards the Christians. But the radical gangs which are waging a furious anti-Christian campaign have powerful means and know how to manipulate people. This means the percentage of Hindus who sympathise with us has dropped in a short time”, said the Archbishop. Christians have been encouraged not to respond to provocation, not to react to violence with violence, as it happened in some isolated cases, above all to prevent an endless spiral of hate and revenge.
“We ask for peace, security, freedom, and the same treatment and respect as other citizens. And now adequate compensation for damages” Archbishop Cheenath told Fides.
Catholics in Orissa send this message: “We ask the Christians of the world to support us with their prayers and help us to rebuild destroyed churches and homes”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 29/1/2007 righe 27 parole 273)
