wfn.org | Indian Bishop Condemns Growing Persecution of Christians

[FRANKI@elca.org]

Destruction of Churches and Homes Common Place

JEYPORE, India/GENEVA, 28 March 2001 (LWI) - "Good words from the
government" is all that Indian Lutheran Bishop Purno H. Prokash expects as
action from the local authorities after a recently constructed Lutheran
church was demolished apparently for "illegally occupying" state land.

On 15 March 2001, more than 5,000 Christians took part in a demonstration
protesting the January 27 demolition of the Asumoti Behera Memorial Lutheran
Church in Nowrangapur district, Orissa region, by persons believed to be
Hindu fundamentalists. Prokash, who is bishop of the Jeypore Evangelical
Lutheran Church (JELC), is explicit: "The construction of the church was
authorized by the government."

The local administration is aware that a group of people using bulldozers
razed the church building to the ground, but since it is not easy for
Christians to get support from the government no redress is expected in such
cases, Prokash said. The majority of Christians are Dalits--untouchables
according to India's caste system.

The church building, already scheduled for inauguration was constructed in
memory of Mrs. Asumoti Behera, who in December 1886 became the first,
baptized Christian in the Churchunda area, then in Koraput district.

In an interview with Lutheran World Information (LWI) Prokash said what
happened at Churchunda is just another example of the growing persecution of
Christians in India. In principle, they speak out against the deeply rooted
caste system, and work toward uplifting the poor in general and particularly
the Dalits and tribals who are discriminated against. Ninety-five percent of
the JELC's 140,000 members are Dalits and tribal people.

Orissa Has Become a Very Susceptible Place

With the conservative Hindu-nationalist party in power, tensions have arisen
between fundamentalist Hindu and non-Hindu groups, including the Christian
minority. Orissa has become a very susceptible place after the 1999 killing
of Australian missionary Graham Stewart Staines and his two sons, according
to the Lutheran church leader. The burning of churches and homes, rape of
women, indiscriminate killings and other forms of intimidation are now
common place.

"We are always threatened. Christian Dalits are denied access to education,
employment, bank loans and many other rights that are granted to
non-Christian Dalits in order to improve their social status. It is a very
frustrating situation, especially for the youth," Prokash lamented.

But it is evident that Christianity in India is growing. Within five years,
the JELC has established 80 congregations in the Andhra Pradesh province,
Prokash said. According to official figures, Christians make up 2.4 percent
of India's 1 billion people, but the church leader is convinced that the
sub-continent has more Christians. The authorities feel challenged by the
potential conversion of many Dalits, he said.

Elaborate Conversion Process

According to the Lutheran bishop, it is not easy for a Dalit to become a
Christian. The Freedom of Religious Act, enforced in Orissa in 1999,
includes an intricate process to formalize conversion to Christianity. Each
person must swear an affidavit that is submitted to the district
administrator, who in turn instructs the police to verify that the applicant
"is not receiving any money for conversion." In the meantime, the
fundamentalists harass such individuals.

Prokash sees the recent legal process as a major obstacle. "By virtue of
being a Dalit, the applicant should not enter a first class magistrate's
court to begin with. The police scrutiny only exacerbates the intimidation
faced by Dalit Christians," he emphasized.

In spite of all the odds against Dalits, the JELC bishop is encouraged by
the solidarity of Christian churches in their work among India's low-caste
people. When calamities such as the cyclone or the recent earthquake [in
Gujarat] occur, Christians offer much help. "In addition, they are the ones
who stay on with the Dalits long after the emergency phase is over," he
added.

A member of the Lutheran World Federation since 1950, the JELC operates
hospitals, schools, a theological college, and homes for widows and youth.
The church also runs a printing press.

(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund (Sweden), the LWF now has 131 member
churches in 72 countries representing over 60.2 million of the nearly 64
million Lutherans worldwide. The LWF acts on behalf of its member churches
in areas of common interest such as ecumenical relations, theology,
humanitarian assistance, human rights, communication, and the various
aspects of mission and development work. Its secretariat is located in
Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of the Lutheran
World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted, material presented does
not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units.
Where the dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material
may be freely reproduced with acknowledgement.]

*       *       *
LUTHERAN WORLD INFORMATION
PO Box 2100, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Editor's e-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
Tel: (41.22) 791.63.54
Fax: (41.22) 791.66.30
http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/Articles/EN/LWI