Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangalore (Agenzia Fides) - Respect for Christians and to give them full religious freedom is the appeal launched by Bishops, Christian leaders, leaders of movements and associations, politicians of the state of Karnataka (South India), gathered for the Convention of the "Federation of Christian Associations of Karnataka" (FKCA). Reacting to the trail of violence that is recorded against the faithful in the state (the last episode is an attack on a Jesuit campus, see other Fides news), civil society calls for a decisive intervention on behalf of the authorities, pointing out that in 2011 over 1,000 incidents of attacks against people or Christian places in Karnataka took place.
As reported in a note sent to Fides, the Federation, during the assembly held on January 29, first thanked the Prime Minister of Karnataka, D.V. Sadananda Gowda for having established the "Christian Development Council" (CDC) and for the withdrawal of charges against the Christians, recorded after the attacks on churches in Mangalore in 2008, but now asks that the CDC "is given the concrete opportunity of working with adequate funding". The body, composed of political and civil society representatives will have the task to encourage the promotion and development of Christian communities: the intervention of the state, says FKCA, cannot be limited to a "charity" given to the "Christian Development Council. "
Speaking at the Convention, Prime Minister Sadananda Gowda stressed the need that all religions are to be respected and are in the service of human beings. "The motto 'unity in diversity' is the greatest strength of India," he said, pointing out the differences of culture, language, ethnicity and religion. The Convention ended with a Mass celebrated by Mgr. Henry D'Souza, Bishop of Bellary, where the Christians prayed for the victims of violence. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 31/01/2012)
