19 September 2008
Solidarity urged as violence rocks Church in India
The Methodist Church is calling for urgent prayer for
thousands of persecuted Christians in India as violence flares
across the state of Orissa.
The British Methodist Church offered its support to The Church of
North India (CNI) this week as more than 50,000 people were left
homeless and many killed in attacks following the worst
anti-Christian violence India has seen since independence 60 years
ago.
Revd Dr Enos Das Pradhan from CNI made contact with the World
Church Relationships Office, asking Methodists to uphold their
brothers and sisters in Orissa in prayers for peace. "Fear of
attack has taken every Christian into its grip and our people are
living in the most persecuting time of their lives," he said. "Will
you join us in prayer for our brethren in Orissa? Kindly uphold the
people of Orissa in your prayers, that God grants them strength to
bear the losses and also to be witness of His love in these trying
times."
CNI, the British Methodist Church's partner in the region, has
been at pains to condemn the killings of both Hindus and
Christians. Revd Dr Pradham also condemned the killing of Hindu
leader, Pradhan Swami Laxminarayan Saraswati and his four
associates in his letter to British Methodists.
Steve Pearce, Partnership Coordinator for Asia, was keen to pass
on CNI's request. "To use religion as a justification for attacking
individuals or groups is abhorrent and yet we are seeing widespread
community violence," he said. "We have heard of horrific attacks on
homes, places of worship and individuals. Many of us were moved
this week by a press photo of a young girl whose face had been
burnt because she was a Christian. We ask the Indian Government to
act for peace, to act for the vulnerable and quickly undermine the
culture of intolerance and violence while there is time."
Kasta Dip, Coordinator of Youth Concerns for CNI emailed youth and
children's Connexional team colleagues at the British Methodist
Church. "We have been hearing news of killings everyday," said
Kasta. "My hometown Bolangir is in the western part of Orissa.
There have been already over 60 instances of violence, including
the burning alive of at least eight persons and over six hundred
homes. "Last night three CNI churches were burnt. Pray for our
three dioceses in Orissa."
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