Arch. Barwa: Odisha Church
enriched by the blood of its martyrs
 |
| Violence against Christians in Kandhamal, India, in 2008. |
Archbishop John Barwa together with the Catholic Bishops
Conference of India (CBCI) are commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 2008
anti-Christian violence in Odisha, with a Mass at St Joseph Convent School of
Bhubaneswar on August 25.
By Robin Gomes
Christians in India are marking the 10th anniversary
of the brutal violence that Christians of eastern India’s Odisha state faced in
2008, with a Mass in the state capital , Bhubaneswar, on August 25.
Archbishop John Barwa together with the Catholic
Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) are celebrating the 10thanniversary
Mass at St Joseph Convent School of Bhubaneswar on the theme, “Reconciliation,
Thanksgiving and Grace”.
The anniversary day is dubbed as Kandhamal Day, as most of
the violence was perpetrated in the state’s Kandhamal District that comes under
the jurisdiction of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar Archdiocese.
However, Arch. Barwa said that many will not be able to come
for the Mass in Bhubaneswar on August 25 because of the distance and the
current rainy season. But the day will be marked locally at various
different levels.
The archbishop told Vatican News that 3 days after the 10th anniversary,
Christians are organizing a demonstration to press for their demands.
Public rally
On the August 28 Christians plan to hold a public rally
in Phulbani during which they intend to hand a memorandum to
the state chief minister Naveen Patnaik, to demand justice and compensation
that many victims and their families have been waiting for 10 years now.
But more than all these external manifestations, the
archbishop said, Christians are relying on prayers.
Blood of martyrs….
It was under late Archbishop Raphael Cheenath that the
August 2008 anti-Christian violence flared up in Kandhamal. Archbishop
Barwa who took over in February 2011 noted that in the past 10 years the life
of the Church in Odisha and Kandhamal has grown and enriched enormously.
There is greater mutual support between communities and
cooperation and unity between the various Christian denominations.
This is leading to the social and economic growth and political unity
among the faithful.
The faithful are also strengthened spiritually, proving how
true the words of the 2nd century Church father, Tertullian
are, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christianity.” This is
particularly evident in the growth in the number of vocations to the priesthood
and religious life.
Pursuit of justice
With regard to justice for the those who lost their dear
ones, property and livelihood, Archbishop Barwa said that the justice system is
slow and takes time.
India’s Supreme Court had ordered more than Rs. 210.5
million in compensation to the victims of the 2008 riots, but the archbishop
lamented that only Rs. 150 million has been disbursed. Some 30 percent of
the affected people have not received anything. However, Fr. Dibakar
Parichha, the director of the archdiocesan legal office together with Bishop
Theodore Mascarenhas, the secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of India (CBCI), are pursuing the matter with the chief minister and other
authorities who have assured things will be done.
Archbishop Barwa himself has filed a review petition for
those who have not received any compensation. Despite the slow pace of
justice, the archbishop expressed hope that things are moving.
Martyrdom
Efforts are under way in Cuttack- Bhubaneswar Archdiocese to
recognized the martyrdom of those who have been killed because of their
Christian faith. Archbishop Barwa said gathering evidence of their
martyrdom takes a long time because family members, neighbours and eye
witnesses are often reluctant to talk fearing for their future.
The archbishop said that the local Church is not so much
interested in their beatification and canonization, as getting them recognized
as martyrs who died for their faith. Archbishop Barwa has set up a team
headed by his former secretary, Fr. Purushottam Nayak, that is gathering
evidence regarding the martyrdom.
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