India: Leader called to condemn attacks against Christians

Neville Kyrke-Smith,

Following the gang rape of a 72-year-old religious Sister in eastern India, Aid to the Church in Need has demanded that Prime Minister Modi condemns growing Christian persecution.

Police in eastern India are searching for a group of six men who gang-raped the elderly nun in West Bengal. The men ransacked the convent school of Jesus and Mary in Ranaghat sometime before 7am on 14 March, and stole money before entering the convent itself.

According to reports, the convent's 72-year-old religious superior was attacked and raped while trying to stop the intruders. The thieves also attacked three other elderly sisters. All the victims are currently in hospital.

Neville Kyrke-Smith, National Director Aid to the Church in Need (UK), said: "Aid to the Church in Need will continue to stand by those who face oppression and violence because of their faith. We call on President Modi and all politicians to condemn attacks against Christians and to support religious freedom for all."

Speaking to the news agency Agence France-Presse, Bishop Thomas D'Souza of Calcutta said: "We prayed for the nun to recover from the shock, fear and physical injuries and we will continue our prayers."

The incident has raised the concern of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, who called on the Prime Minister of West Bengal to "take appropriate measures to bring the perpetrators to justice and provide adequate protection to the nuns and religious institutions."

Commenting on the wider issue of Christian persecution, Mr Kyrke-Smith said: "This sexual violation of an elderly nun adds to the growing fear of Christian communities in many parts of India. The tension and acts of aggression in India against Christian communities are escalating as we see an increase in intolerance and a rise in a politically religious fundamentalism."

India is a priority country for Aid to the Church in Need which helps provide Christian education and catechesis for children, emergency support for victims of persecution, training for seminarians, support for Sisters and lay catechists, construction of churches and other centres, and vehicles for pastoral work.

Source: ACN