From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org
Catholic Bishops of India Distressed over attacks on Christians
From
Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>
Date
Wed, 20 Feb 2002 07:32:36 -0800
New Delhi, 20/02/2002
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) today expressed its
deep regret and distress over some of the recent attacks on Church
institutions and its personnel over the past few weeks in various parts
of India. The CBCI has received news of four different attacks in the
recent past.
"We unequivocally condemn the attacks such as one in Port Blair on a
Christian cemetery on 12 February; statue of Virgin Mary which is broken
in a cemetery in Bettiah, Bihar on 20 January; an attack on priest in
Raipur district by the family of a teacher on 31 January and the attack
on Church at Hinkal in Karnataka on 17 February. We are shocked that the
attacks on the Community are coming to the fore again. We urge the
competent authorities to nab the culprits immediately and take lawful
action against them", said archbishop Oswald Gracias, the Secretary
General of the CBCI and Archbishop of Agra.
"We thought that attacks on Church institutions and its personnel had
become a thing of the past and that we had begun to move forward
together keeping in mind the progress of the country and harmony of the
Indian society".
The CBCI is going to write letters of appeal to the Prime Minister Mr.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the Home Minister Mr. L. K. Advani to look into
these matters, "as we feel embarrassed when acts of intolerance such as
these appear to raise its head again and when the country gets a bad
name internationally", said archbishop Vincent M. Concessao, the first
vice-president of the CBCI and Archbishop of Delhi.
Issued by
Rev. Dr. Dominic Emmanuel svd
Spokesman + Public Affairs
Browse month . . .
Browse month (sort by Source) . . .
Advanced Search & Browse . . .
WFN Home