Caritas India to organize prayer for Pak blast victims

September 24, 2013: Caritas India, the social arm of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, would organize a special prayer meeting this week for the victims of the church bomb blasts in Pakistan.

“A special prayer meeting will be organized this week for those affected in the blast” said Fr. Frederick D’Souza, executive director of Caritas India, in a press statement. Sending a message to the perpetrators of the ghastly act, he said, “there is no issue that cannot be resolved over a dialogue. Parties indulging in violence should not play with the lives of innocent and peace loving people.”

He expressed solidarity with Caritas Pakistan and the Christian community of that country at this difficult time. Terming the yesterday’s attack on the All Saints Church at Peshawar as the most cowardly act, the priest lauded the Pakistan Government’s timely help to the victims of the blast.

Over 80 people were killed and 150 injured after two suicide bombers struck the historic church. Police said that 12 kgs of explosives were used in the suicide vests of the bombers.

“The first attack happened when services had finished and people were leaving the church. The suicide bomber tried to attack the people, but when he was stopped by the police, he detonated the bomb. The second blast was carried out inside the Church," they said. Some 500 to 600 people were inside the church at the time of the attack. People soaked in blood wailed for help as bodies lay strewn in the Church's courtyard.

Missionary schools closed after Church bombings. Catholic Church in Pakistan has announced three days of mourning after the attack.
(Source: UCAN)