Orissa death toll rises to 52; archbishop: situation ‘out of control’
October 06, 2008
Following the killing of two Baptists in Orissa Thursday evening, a tense calm descended on the east Indian state. Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, who has met repeatedly with government leaders, said that the situation remains ‘out of control.’ Meanwhile AsiaNews reports compelling evidence that the Orissa state government suppressed evidence that Maoists killed the Hindu leader whose death sparked the anti-Christian violence.
The Indian cabinet held a special meeting on Friday, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh telling cabinet members, ‘There were a lot of complaints [in Europe and the US] about Christians being targeted in parts of the country, including Karnataka and Orissa. I had no answers, and had to hang my head in shame.’ Interreligious protests calling for the defense of Christians took place in several cities, and a group of Christians issued an appeal to the late Mahatma Gandhi to move the government to action.
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Further information:
- Orissa chief aims to appease majority: archbishop (ICNS)
- No reports of violence; govt. claims peace in Orissa (ICNS)
- Special cabinet meet to discuss Orissa violence (ICNS)
- Leading Hindu scholar "ashamed" by mob violence (Chiesa)
- Maoists killed the Hindu swami; government of Orissa concealed the evidence (AsiaNews)
- State inaction emboldens fanatics: bishop says (ICNS)
- Nun’s rape: police arrest four in Orissa (ICNS)
- Orissa death toll rises to 52 as anti-Christian violence continues (UCAN)
- Hindus, Muslims join sit-in to protest attacks on Christians (UCAN)
- Christians turn to Mahatma Gandhi for help (UCAN)
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Posted by: GenevieveDeMarie -
Jun. 11, 2010 9:31 PM ET USA
The *advantage* to living in an openly corrupt and immoral-to-the-point-of-hostility culture, is that at least one *knows* that the culture is antagonistic to faith and virtue -- just 25 years ago, when social corruption was much less obvious, it was also easier to dismiss mildly offensive material in the media as benign. Almost all the media I consumed as a teenager was irreligious and did as much damage to my faith as St. Teresa's romance novels did to hers 500 years ago.
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Posted by: -
Jun. 06, 2010 12:52 AM ET USA
I feel that the "all societies are corrupt" response is very unhelpful to those of us who are feeling overwhelmed by the recent changes in American society. There can be no dispute that American society was much more supportive of Christian morality 50 years ago than it is now. It is not nice to minimize the concerns of people who are struggling in the trenches of the culture war. I'm sure you have a lot of perspective but try to show some compassion for parents with teenagers and young kids.
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Posted by: delbert_estey8994 -
Jun. 05, 2010 6:05 PM ET USA
Dr. Mirus thank you very much. This is exactly what is needed. Again thank you, Delbert Estey
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Posted by: St Thomas More Pray for Us -
Jun. 04, 2010 3:20 PM ET USA
Re: “at all costs, a sound Catholic education”. Where I live, many of our Catholic schools are closing or have become Catholic in name only; our religious ed programs are minimally funded; and youth ministry programs are non-existent. We should work to change that, but parents always have been the primary teachers. It’s tough, but it’s not a burden. As you continue the Culture Project, please help us. There are lots of resources out there. But it’s hard separating the wheat from the chaff.
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Posted by: -
Jun. 03, 2010 9:43 AM ET USA
Excellent, serious, and devout! We Catholics need to get our apostolic heads on straight and Dr. Mirus has gifted us with a remarkably complete set of marching orders. The battle to corrupt souls rages in every quarter and it is our obligation, by God, to do good, avoid evil, and evangelize. You have heard Christ's call year after year. Now, go forth.
