Mangalore Christians begin fast for peace

(March 14, 2011) Christians in southern India’s Mangalore city have started a 21-day fast and prayer vigil for safety and peace. “We offer the 21 days of prayers and fasting for the safety” of Christians in Karnataka state, who witnessed a wave of attacks against them two years ago, said Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza of Mangalore who opened the marathon prayer programme on Thursday. At least 27 Christian sites were damaged across the state in the first few days of violence that began in 2008, three months after the pro-Hindu Bhratiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power that year. Father Nelson Pinto, the convener of the prayer program across the diocese, said Catholics plan to abstain from meat and their other favourite food items. Catholics from all over the parishes would take turns to join the fast, prayer and adorations conducted in the diocesan headquarters for eight hours every day. Some 600 people attended the inauguration of the prayer and fast programme which will conclude on March 30.