wfn.org | Adventists Mourn Death of Catholic Archbishop

[APD <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

June 30,2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Adventists Mourn Death of Catholic Archbishop Alan 
de Lastic of New Delhi

Hosur, India.   It is with a deep sense of loss 
and shock that Seventh-day Adventists in India 
mourn the demise of Roman Catholic Archbishop Alan 
de Lastic. He was a kind friend, a devoted leader 
of Christians, and a champion of the cause of 
religious liberty. 

Archbishop Alan de Lastic was killed in a tragic 
road accident during an official visit to Poland. 
The Archbishop was well-known for his effective 
leadership of the Christian community at a 
challenging time, often voicing his concern in the 
corridors of power in New Delhi about the 
increasing spate of attacks on Christian mission 
workers around India and places of worship. He was 
one of the main speakers at the World Conference 
on Religious Freedom, organized by the 
International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA) 
at new Delhi, November 15-18, 1999. Speaking at 
that meeting, Archbishop de Lastic said that 
"Without that word 'freedom' there is no 
religion." Speaking of the need for patience and 
restraint, he said that there must be "no 
retaliation, only forgiveness." 

The members of the executive committee and office 
staff of the Southern Asia Division of Seventh-day 
Adventists share a sense of loss with the Indian 
Catholics. Breaking the sad news at a morning 
worship, Dr Justus Devadas, director of the 
Adventist Church's Religious Liberty Department, 
said, "He was a good friend who listened with 
patience to all who went to see him. He never 
hesitated to make known his displeasure when 
Christians became targets of attack. The Christian 
community in India has lost a great leader and a 
fearless man of God." 

A message of condolence was sent on behalf of the 
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples by 
Secretary Adjunct, Archbishop Charles Schleck, to 
the vicar general of Delhi, Mgr Victor D'Souza. 
"He was greatly admired by his brother Bishops - 
the message said - to whom he was both a friend 
and a co-worker, in fact they chose him as 
president of their Bishops' Conference. The loss 
of this great man of the Church - Archbishop 
Schleck continues - comes at a time in which the 
Church in India faces circumstances and 
difficulties of a religious nature, connected with 
the question of religious freedom".

"In many ways Christians in India have lost a 
prophet of our times" said the National Council of 
Churches in India (NCCI) - a forum of 29 different 
Protestant and Orthodox Churches, in a statement.

A tribute was also paid by the President of India 
K. R. Narayanan who said Archbishop de Lastic was 
"a generous and sensitive human being" and "a 
social activist who espoused the cause of the poor 
and the needy". "In his death, India has lost a 
spiritual leader whose guidance has been of 
critical importance to the Christian community" 
President Narayanan added. Prime Minster Atal 
Behari Vajpayee remembers him as a "person 
committed to inter-community peace and 
understanding as well as tolerance, recalling 
several meetings with the late Archbishop de 
Lastic. [Editor: Christian B. Schäffler for 
APD/203/2000]