Pope Benedict XVI publicly condemned the violence in India during mass on Sunday, an act that was welcomed by India’s Catholic clergies while opposed by Hindu nationalist politicians who accused the Vatican of interfering.
"The pope's comments draw international attention to the problems of a minority which cannot defend itself on its own," said Father Dominic Emmanuel, spokesman for the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese on Monday, according to Agence France-Presse.
Likewise, Father Thomas Sequeira, the director of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, called the pontiff’s comments “very appropriate and proper."
"We stand by what the pope said. We don't care what others may say," Sequeira said.
However, the pope’s comments angered Hindu nationalist political party BJP, which told the pontiff to not interfere in India’s internal affairs.
"India is a sovereign country and I do not think any religious head should say anything," said BJP spokeswoman Sushma Swaraj.
Unprecedented levels of anti-Christian violence began in mid-August in the eastern state of Orissa after the death of a Hindu fundamentalist leader.
In Orissa state alone, some 50,000 Christians are said to be displaced from their homes by the violence. Hindu militant mobs have torched thousands of homes, churches, Christian-owned businesses, and faith-based orphanages in the state.
The violence, which has spread to more than 4 other states, is said to be the worst anti-Christian attacks in the 60 years of India’s independence.
More than 30 people, mostly Christians, are said to have died because of the attacks, according to secular media. But Indian Christian groups say the death toll is well over 50.
The Archbishop of Orissa, Raphael Cheenath, argues that the pope has a right to condemn the persecution of Indian Christians.
"The pope has got every right to speak for those of us hit by violence of the worst kind," Cheenath said. "His words were a great consolation to the suffering Christians in Orissa and elsewhere in India.”
Christians have held rallies in India and the United States to protest the violence and urge the Indian government to do more to stop the attacks.
On Tuesday, a rally organized by the All India Confederation of SC/ST will be held in New Delhi to protest the anti-Christian violence.
RSS
The anti-Christian terrorist organisation "Bajrang Dal" and its affiliates need to be branded by the international community. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad operates freely in the US, UK, Canada, Australia with tak exempt status. Its important for the leadership to take on these organisations for the sake of the victims of Genocide in Orissa.
Go get 'em Papa!!! Protect our Christians!
"India is a sovereign country and I do not think any religious head should say anything," said BJP spokeswoman Sushma Swaraj.
I almost fell out of my chair laughing at the above comment. The spokesman for the HINDU Nationalist Party says religious leaders should say anything? Ummmmm, isn't Hinduism a religion? Isn't membership restricted to members of the Hindu religion? I guess that means you should tell your masters to be quiet. Oh, I forgot, it really means leaders of non-Hindu religions should keep quiet while the BJP sanctions and encourages murder, torture and persecution of non-Hindu's based solely on the basis of their religion. Hypocricy at its finest.
Hindu radicals are opening a new argument that other
countries won't have the right to display their concern about the persecuted Christians of India. Let me ask
to the spokeswoman of BJP, Ms. Sushma Swaraj, whether
she will express her concern when Hindus are being
persecuted in the U.S. or any other county where the
Hindus are a minority? It is human nature to display
empathy toward other human beings, especially to the
same relgious followers. Even animals show agony when
their own are in danger, then how the Chrisians will
have to act?
I thank God for Pope for his concern for the suffering
Christians of India, and until the persecution is
stopped, the news will keep on getting bigger every day.
Please pray for the suffering minority Christian community of India. There are several websites showing
the persecution of the Christians in India like
www.persecution.in, and a whole lot of other websites
from many parts of the world.