Bishops begin meet, attack on Christians on agenda

(February 12, 2009) The Latin Rite Catholic bishops across India began their week-long meeting in Mysore, Karnataka on Thursday, which many say would discuss issues affecting Christians in the country. Some 130 bishops of the 128 Dioceses from all over India are attending the meeting on the theme: "Word of God, Source of light for the people of India." The systematically planned and executed brutal attacks on Christians last year" is going to be the major concern at the February 12-18 meeting, according to Father Uduma Bala, deputy secretary general of the Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India. The conference is the national body of all bishops of India belonging to the Latin Rite. It holds its national meet every year and this time the venue is Mysore. The other 32 dioceses belong to the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches. Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, the Apostolic Nuncio to India, inaugurated the meet and Bishop Thomas A Vazhappilly of Mysore chaired the opening meeting. Several places across India witnessed Hindu fanatic violence against Christians during 2008. The worst was in Orissa state, eastern India, where seven weeks of violence beginning August 24 claimed at least 60 lives and displaced another 50,000 people, mostly Christians. In September, Hindu extremists also attacked at least 24 churches in Karnataka. Father Bala pointed out the venue for the bishops' meeting was selected even before these attacks. Now, it will help the prelates recall the attacks and review their impact on Christians, he added. "Undoubtedly, with great hope Catholics look toward the hierarchy for guidance," Father Bala said.