Catholics, Muslims and Hindus remember the attack on Kathmandu cathedral
(May 23, 2013) In Nepal, hundreds of people gathered Thursday s morning at the Church
of the Assumption in Kathmandu to remember the terrible attack that took place on
23 May 2009, that claimed the lives of two people and injured 13. "We are not afraid
to continue our service in the name of God," said Fr Robin Rai, parish priest at the
Cathedral, which was packed not only with Catholics, but also with Hindus and Muslims.
"Extremist threats, he added, "do not scare us. We shall pursue our mission even more."
The priest pointed out that "Catholics are not for revenge, but always for the good
of man and society, in solidarity with all other religious faiths." The families
of the victims and survivors of the attack took part in the ceremony. Shyam Rai, who
was seriously injured by the blast caused by a bomb placed by Hindu extremists, told
AsiaNews that his dramatic experience "increased his faith in God. Now I am ready
to face any adversity in his name." Kathmandu's small Catholic community prayed
together with Muslim and Hindu representatives, who in recent years have shown on
more than one occasion their solidarity with Christians. "The attack has nothing to
do with our religion. No believer has the right to take such action using the pretext
of faith," said Damodar Gautam, a senior Hindu leader with the Interfaith Dialogue
Council. "Unfortunately," he added, "Hinduism has been used by extremists to commit
violence in the name of religion." Despite threats and attacks, Nepal's Catholic
community has grown in recent years. Today it has more than 7,000 members, representing
approximately 0.45 per cent of the population. Its activities, especially in the field
of education, are known and respected throughout the country. In 2011, the government
declared Christmas a national holiday, allowing Christian processions and events in
which hundreds of people of other faiths participate each year.