India v. Christians

From the Jesuit Conference of the United States:

The Society of Jesus in the United States is increasingly alarmed by the continuing outbreaks of violence in the India state of Orissa against Christians and other minorities by Hindu extremists. With many of our American and Indian Jesuits in the region ministering to the people of Orissa, we are extremely concerned for our brothers’ safety and the safety of the people they serve. The violence has spread and is occurring in other states throughout India, only increasing the need for greater protection by the government.

“As soon as we received the urgent plea from our Jesuits in the area, we were called into action and joined them in solidarity against these attacks,” said Jesuit Father James Stormes, secretary for social and international ministries of the Jesuit Conference of the United States. “The Jesuits have consistently worked for peace and reconciliation in the area and are horrified by the sufferings of the ordinary people who always pay the price for these kinds of conflicts.”

Jesuits in the U.S. have been in touch with the Department of State and the Indian Embassy to raise awareness about the violence and to call for protection of Christians and minorities. More than 26 Christians and minorities have been killed in the preceding three weeks, more than 50 places of worship have been attacked, 15 churches and convents have been destroyed and more than 4,000 homes of Christians in villages in the Kandhamal district have been burned. The distinguished Jesuit-run Xavier Institute of Management was threatened when mobs passed through the city of Bhubaneswar in the Jamshedpur Province.

Previous AmP posts on this topic here.