Anti-Christian Violence in India Not Waning

(September 18, 2008) An Indian cardinal is decrying a lack of respect among religious fundamentalists for minorities' Constitutional rights. Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, president of the Indian Episcopal conference, spoke out against a wave of attacks against Christians by Hindu fundamentalists, which began in the state of Orissa last month, but has now spread to other areas. The Indian state of Orissa had been the primary scene of a spate of anti-Christian violence, which is now spread to other states. Christians are only a little more than 2% of India's population of 1.1 billion. Hindus are about 80%.The cardinal said the recent attacks "are the manifestation of the growing intolerance of certain sectors of society, who unashamedly challenge the Constitutional rights of the citizens of this country." Among the many reports of violence, the bishops reported that last Sunday, several Christians and 13 churches, both Catholic and Protestant, were attacked in Mangalore, Udupi and Chikkamagalur districts of Karnataka, allegedly at the hands of Bajrang Dal, a Hindu extremist group. Two Protestant pastors and a Catholic nun were wounded. Four of the churches were Catholic. The Catholic bishops condemned the attacks in a note issued by the Episcopal conference and signed by spokesman, Father Babu Joseph. The prelates also called on authorities to do everything possible to stem the violence. The bishops stressed that the attacks are not provoked: "The Christian community has behaved peacefully, including in situations of extreme provocation.” He said. The bishops also rejected the accusations of proselytism, stressing that the Christian community "continues to offer its services to all sectors of Indian society without any discrimination whatsoever." In a note condemning the attacks, Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore appealed for Christian unity at this time: "The moment has arrived for Christians to unite and grow in strength."