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Title:
Christian Plight in Orissa
Description: The bishops issued on Aug. 27 evening a list of Christian properties
that arsonists have attacked and burned. They listed 41 churches,
four convents and 11 other Christian institutions as well as 17
houses. But that list is incomplete. Even the previous night at
least a convent and a house were torched, Father Joseph said, adding
that Church leaders are making all efforts to get help to the
Christians in the state, most of whom are economically and socially
poor.
Hindu radicals took to violence after a Hindu religious
leader, Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, and five of his associates
were killed on Aug. 23 in the states Kandhamal district. Maoists
reportedly claimed responsibility for the killings, but some Hindu
groups have alleged Christians masterminded the killing, a charge
all Christian Churches and denominations have denied.
Catholic
educational institutions across India have decided to close on Aug.
29 to protest the continuing violence against Christians in Orissa.
The 160 Catholic dioceses and 239 Religious congregations in the
country together run about 20,275 educational institutions serving
more than 10 million students. About 60 percent of these
institutions are in villages and serve poor, marginalized rural
people.
The Church will also observe Sept. 7 as a day of prayer
and fasting for Christians in the eastern Indian state, the CBCI
announced at a press conference in New Delhi on Aug. 26.