India: 53 arrested for attacks on Karnataka churches; Orissa Church life paralyzed

September 17, 2008

While authorities in the state of Karnataka have reacted to anti-Christian violence-- tardily, in the view of Church leaders-- the mob attacks continue in Orissa. Now the campaign of violence has spread to another Indian state: Madya Pradesh.

AsiaNews, citing figures provided by All India Catholic Union, reported that so far the violence in the state of Orissa alone has killed 45 and wounded 18,000; 5 are missing; 56 churches, 11 schools, and 4 NGO offices have been destroyed; 300 villages have been attacked; more than 4,000 homes have been burned or destroyed, forcing more than 50,000 people to flee. Of these, 40,000 are still hiding in the forest; 12,000 are sheltered in the refugee camps provided by the government.

Hindu antipathy toward the Church is illustrated by the complaints that a television ad depicting a priest as an educator is an offense against the Hindu faith-- despite the fact that Church-run schools have educated millions of India's children, including Hindus.

 

---

For all current news, visit our News home page.

---

 
Further information:

• Anti-Christian violence paralyzes Church life in Orissa (UCAN)
• Violence continues in Orissa (Vatican Radio)
• Police arrest 53 for Karnataka violence (ICNS)
• Carmelite convent attacked in Madya Pradesh (AsiaNews)
• Karnataka: Chief minister offers compensation to damaged churches, Christians still unhappy (UCAN)
• Catholic school guard shot at, survives (ICNS)
• Fact-finding team reaches Mangalore; will investigate religious attacks (ICNS)
• Hindu group opposes television advertisement depicting Catholic priest (UCAN)