Churches seek day of peace on anniversary of anti-Christian violence

(July 25, 2009) Led by Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Bhubaneswar, India, in the troubled Orissa state, Christian church leaders have called for a day of peace and harmony on the first anniversary of anti-Christian violence in the Kandhamal district of Orissa. "Since peace and harmony was disturbed on Aug. 23, 2008, leading to ensuing violence for several months, it is necessary to establish and remember Aug. 23, 2009, as a day for peace and harmony," the church leaders said in a Press statement at the archbishop's residence on July 23^rd. The call came exactly a month before the anniversary of the murder of Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati, the leader of Hindu nationalist groups in Orissa. The slain Hindu monk had been leading a campaign against conversions to Christianity. Though Maoists claimed responsibility for the murder, saying they were punishing the Hindu leader for mixing religion with politics, Hindu groups blamed the Christians for the murder that was committed. Subsequent anti-Christian violence lasted for weeks, leaving more than 90 Christians dead and displaced more than 50,000 Christians.