In India two Catholic priests attacked near Bangalore

(27 July 2006) : Two Catholic priests, members of the Congregation of Missionaries of St Francis de Sales were brutally attacked July 25 near Bangalore city, in the south-western Indian state of Karnataka. Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore has expressed his deep anguish and strongly condemned the dastardly act. Fr. Soby Thomas is the Vice Principal of St Francis de Sales High School in Hebbagodi town, which is popular and much sought after in the locality. Fr Soby Thomas and Fr Vinod were attacked apparently with cricket bats by a group of “anti-social elements”. After the attack they were immediately rushed to a hospital. Both the priests are also well known environmentalists, fighting against pollution and ecological degradation in the locality. Sajan George of Global Council of Indian Christians observed: “The attack on the Green priests is an attack on ecological conservation, freedom of expression and above all the ethos of civil society.”