Cardinal Gracias Lauds Christians’ Faith in Orissa

(August 30, 2008) Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay and president of the Latin Rite Bishops of India told Vatican Radio that despite violence Catholics in Orissa are committed “prayer and to faith in the Cross of Jesus.” He was speaking in the wake of continued violence against Christians in Orissa that worsened since last Monday. Hindu fanatics’ violence has killed at least 20 people in the six day violence, reports say. Cardinal said in the face of violence in Orissa, Catholics are devoted. The roots of the violence need to be discovered and “we need to ask ourselves how to keep this from happening again in the future.” In Orissa, Christians “live with fear because they don’t know what will happen.” He said several churches have been destroyed by fundamentalists, and hostility has increased. For this reason he has called on the government “to intervene immediately.” Cardinal Gracias said the Church has sponsored various initiatives to promote dialogue in India, many of which “have reaped many good results. Unfortunately, in Orissa, this has not been the case.” Cardinal Gracias said the persecution against the Church is aimed at stopping Christian promotion of the person. “These fundamentalist forces do not want the Church to work in support of human rights and the poor. They do not want the Church to contribute to improving the standard of living of these people. For this reason there are problems,” he added. Despite the difficulties, the cardinal said Indian Christians place their hope “in the resurrection of Jesus. And we know that the victory always belongs to Jesus.” Sunday, September 7 will be a day of prayer and fasting for an end to violence in India.