‘There is no hatred in our hearts,’ says Orissa nun who suffered rape

January 25, 2012

Sister Neena Barwa, a nun who was raped during the 2008 persecution of Christians in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, has told the Fides news agency that suffering has led Christians to grow in faith and charity.

“I am sure the Christians in Orissa have not suffered in vain. Our suffering has borne fruit: we grow in faith and the love for God” she said, adding:

Priests, religious and lay people have suffered and fought together. The Lord knows our ordeal, but there is no hatred in our hearts. We believe that unspeakable pain inflicted on us has not been useless …

We know that in suffering we experience God's blessing and the pain has borne fruit: today we have become stronger in faith and the love for God … I feel part of the community in Kandhamal and I have never thought of leaving this place. We have come a long way and we have a long way to go together. In this path, God is our strength and our stronghold …

Today we survive thanks to faith. God is our protection, and He is with us always. We cannot stop to look back because there are significant challenges ahead of us: the Lord has kept us alive and now we are called to face these challenges with hope, confidence, and conviction.

 

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Further information:

• "The suffering of Christians in Orissa is not in vain, it has increased our faith", says the nun raped in 2008 (Fides)
• Indian nun identifies ringleader of rapist gang (CWN, 11/3/10)
• "Kill Christians and Destroy Their Institutions" (2008) (Catholic World Report)