Anti-Christian violence: US group to visit Orissa

(May 7, 2009) Church leaders in India are awaiting a visit from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom to the eastern state of Orissa where anti-Christian violence has been continuing despite protests from political and religious leaders. Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandez of Gandhinagar, secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India says the visit of the US Commission will help bring justice and truth to Christians who are under attack in Orissa. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom prepares reports every year of on the status of religious freedom in countries around the world. In India, the Commission plans to focus on the state of Orissa, where Christians have been under persecution for months and in the western Indian state of Gujarat, where Muslims were attacked. In Orissa, violence against Christians started last August, after extremists blamed the slaying of a Hindu leader on Christian leaders. Dozens of Christians, including a priest, were killed and thousands fled their homes. Thousands of them are still living in displacement camps. Archbishop Fernandez said that "Anyone who endeavors to protect human rights and religious liberty is welcome." "The Church does not seek revenge," the archbishop clarified. "As Christians, we are forgiving and seek peace.”