All Catholic educational Institutions to remain closed as sign of protest of anti-christian violence in Orissa

(Aug.27,2008):- The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India – CBCI, has called on all Catholic
educational institutions across India to remain closed on Aug. 29, to protest continuing
violence against Christians in Orissa.
The Church will also observe Sept. 7 as a day of prayer and fasting for Christians in the eastern Indian state, the CBCI announced at a press conference in New Delhi. Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil of Ernakulam-Angamaly, CBCI president, has appealed to all Catholic groups to organize peaceful rallies across the country to register a strong protest against the repeated attacks on Christians.
Reports say anti-Christian violence continues in Orissa, with at least five people killed in the latest attacks. Armed men continue to ransack and torch churches, presbyteries, convents and Christian health-care centers and hostels in the state. Hindu radical violence against Christians began on Sunday after a Hindu religious leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, and five of his associates were killed on Aug. 23 in the state's Kandhamal district. Maoists reportedly claimed responsibility for the killings, but some Hindu groups have alleged Christians masterminded the killing, a charge all Christian Churches and denominations have denied.