Several prominent Christian groups in India spoke out against the recent outbreak of violence in Orissa State, urging stronger government intervention to end the conflict between Hindus and Christians.
“Some people have called the violence ‘Hindu-Christian clashes,’” said Dr. Joseph D’souza, president of the All India Christian Council, in a statement Wednesday. “But this is not accurate. Innocent Christians – mostly of Dalit origin – continue to be attacked by communal organizations which are mocking the rule of law.
“Governance in Orissa state appears to have disintegrated,” he charged.
D’souza along with other Christian leaders have called for Christian educational institutions across denominational lines to participate in a non-violent protest against the violence by closing schools on Friday.
The initiative is supported by church networks, including the Evangelical Fellowship of India, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, and the National Council of Churches in India.
“We call for all church and Christian educational institutions of Catholic, Protestant, Independent, and unaffiliated Christian denominations in the service of society to close for one day,” said Sam Paul, AICC national secretary of public affairs.
Violence broke out in the eastern state of Orissa after the murder of a Hindu leader by unknown assailants last week. Police have blamed Maoist rebels for the attack, but a Hindu leader has accused “Christian militants” of the act.
On Monday, Hindu hardliners in retaliation torched a Christian orphanage, killing a nun and seriously injuring a priest, according to Evangelical Fellowship of India. Twenty children, who were in the orphanage, were reported to have escaped.
Extremists also torched believers’ homes as the violence spread, burning to death Rasananda Pradhan in his house at Rupa village in Kandhamal district.
Other violent acts against Christians include attacking churches, shops, buses, and offices.
According to EFI, a World Vision India office was also ransacked forcing a staff to flee into the jungle for safety. Moreover, the Mother Teresa Brothers’ residence and hospital in Srasanada was attacked by mobs.
Currently, many poor Christians, now homeless, are taking shelter in the forest out of fear of being attacked by the Hindu militants.
Critics have said the government did not do their part to protect the mostly low-caste Christians.
But on Wednesday, a group of lawyers won an important appeal in the Orissa High Court that will provide relief and increased protection – including the deployment of more security forces to the area – for the victims.
Furthermore, government workers will help victims to return safely from the forest to their homes, according to the order of the judge.
“We hope parents become aware of the implications of the incidents in Orissa,” read the letter by the church networks that plan to shut down Christian schools across India on Friday.
“We also request all our people to pray for the victims of violence in Orissa and other places and their near and dear ones. We also pray for the misguided perpetrators of violence that they may mend their ways and become responsible citizens.”
RSS
INDIA is a rich country, but it is not very charitable when it comes to the poor. You can see folks driving through the slums inh expensive cars and somehow feel like kings when they trow a few crumbs to the POOR. Charitable organisations have been providing at least one meal per day to many POOR folks, who would die of starvation. It just happens to be the Christian organisations that fill that gap most of the time. Please name a Mother Teresa personality in any other faith. Hindus are a tolerant and intellectual people. It is the acts of terrorist organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal with the blessings of the Bharatiya Janata Party who have commited these genocidal crimes. Are the murders and rapes against Christians justified if they help the POOR ??
Helping poor is not a sin.But seeking some thing in return from poor for giving them help is a sin.Even Pentecostal pastors face threat from other christian sections also and not just from Hindus. One big point is there are lots of Muslim poor people in India and these missionaries know well that as "The message of Gospel never never never
gives them hope and happiness along with miracles".. so they stay away from these communities.Help should be done regardless of religion.If somebody does help in that way no one can raise voice against that.So stop conversion and avoid violence for peace
http://www.petitiononline.com/RAJ1962/petition.html
Pl visit the above Link to Send an online petition against Orissa Violence.
what is being documented of the persecution in Orissa is less than the tip of the iceberg. Violence against Christians in Orissa receiving a pathetic news coverage is really bothering. The mentioned deployment of security forces are to towns and more urbanized ares whereas the most vulnerable are those who are living in the villages, or rather were living in the villages for they have now fled to the forest, since transportation has been blocked. People are without proper food and medication. Fresh violence continues to spread.
Christians, esp. leaders, have been literally chopped into pieces, others raped and burnt while some have reconverted, not to mention the loss of property.
We continue to covet prayers from believers around the world and intervention from pressure groups and organizations on behalf of the persecuted and the martyred...
We can only pray for sanity to prevail in these times of persecution. God grant the grace and strength to all those poor victims, priests and missionaries of all denominations who are striving to take the word of God to the misguided masses. Give strength and inspiration to all those who are in command of this electorate to act with justice and fairplay and touch and change the hearts of the heathen who have brought misery to Gods people.
Pat