India’s Christians marking
10th anniversary of anti-Christian violence in Odisha state
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| Archbishop John Berwa of Cuttack -Bhubaneswar. |
Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar and the
Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) are marking the 10th anniversary of
the anti-Christian carnage with a Mass on August 25 at St Joseph Convent School
in Bhubaneswar.
By Robin Gomes
Christians in India will commemorate the 10th anniversary of
the terrible massacre and atrocities inflicted on Christians in the eastern
state of Odisha, with a Holy Mass in the state capital Bhubaneswar on
August 25.
Archbishop John Barwa together with the Catholic
Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) are organizing the Holy Mass on the
theme, “Reconciliation, Thanksgiving and Grace”, appealing for
secularism, democracy, justice and peace and brotherhood.
Black day - August 25, 2008
It was on August 25, 2008, that hell broke loose on the Christians of Kandhamal District, with Hindu extremists attacking them for the August 23 murder of Hindu leader Swami Lakshmanananda Saraswati, even though Maoist rebels claimed the assassination.
Considered to be India’s worst anti-Christian
persecution in 300 years, the outrage that followed for months, forced
an estimated 56,000 Christians to flee to the safety of forests and homes of
friends and relatives. Some 5,600 houses and 415 villages were raided and set
on fire. According to government figures, 38 people were killed and two women
raped, though activists give a higher number. Scores of people were
injured and permanently maimed.
“The inhuman attack on innocent people caught unaware in the
middle of the night of August 25, 2008 will always remain a black spot
in the history of the traditionally peace loving people of Odisha and
Independent India,” Archbishop Barwa said in a press statement announcing the
August 25 anniversary Mass at St Joseph Convent School in Bhubaneswar.
“What was heartbreaking,” he said, was that the “massacre of
the innocents continued unabated for months.” "What happened in
Kandhamal, should have never happened and should never ever happen again,” he
appealed.
Church close to the victims
Speaking to Vatican news, Archbishop Barwa said that in the past 10 years his archdiocese has “remained close to the victims”.
The Church, the archbishop said, has been the “prime diving
force” for the legal process to seek justice and
relief for those who have suffered. In this regard the
archdiocese organized rallies, submitted memoranda to
government authorities and is fighting for justice in the courts of
law.
Archbishop Barwa said that in all these efforts, Christians
have surrendered themselves to God, trusting that what is impossible to human
beings is possible with God.
He said Christians are praying for true forgiveness,
reconciliation and peace.
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