Cardinal decries rape of Orissa nun, low status of women in India

July 16, 2013

Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai (Bombay), the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, has condemned the recent rape of a nun in the eastern Indian state of Orissa.

“I condemn this gang rape of this young nun in the strongest possible terms,” he said. “This gang rape is physical and emotional terrorism.”

“This violation of our young woman religious is [an] evil act inflicted on this woman religious who has consecrated her life to God,” he continued. “Rape is an abhorrent crime and an abominable transgression against the honor of women and reflects [the] abysmal state of women in our society, community and nation.”

“The apathy of government agencies is appalling,” he added. “There is a serious breakdown of [the] law-and-order situation in Kandhamal [district in Orissa]; this was not an isolated violation. Last October, two 13-year-old Christian girls were gang raped in Kandhamal.”

 

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Further information:

• Card. Gracias: Rape of Orissa nun, act of terrorism against humanity (AsiaNews.it)
• Catholic nun kidnapped, raped in India (CWN, 7/15)