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| | A Call for the unity of all Christians! - First Person Account by Sr Joy BS |
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| Sr. Joy, BS Secretary of Bethany Educational Society
Wake up! Mangalorean Christians have a taste of government machinary.
Mangalore September 14, 2008: The Sangh Parivar has struck again in Mangalore! Initial reports say that this morning on Sunday, September 14th 2008, they entered the Monastery of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration at Milagres, Mangalore in the heart of the city and desecrated the Blessed Sacrament.
The reports that came in later said that they had entered and desecrated many of the churches in and around Mangalore. We have news that they have planned a massive rally in Mangalore for Monday - 15.09.2008.
In the past few days the Sangh Parivar has been distributing booklets at the gates of schools to the school children and in public places. These booklets have contained inflammatory contents which would be a great cause for disturbance of communal harmony in Mangalore and in Dakshina Kannada.
Update: 8.00 pm 14/9/2008
First Person Account - Sr Joy BS
There was a big gathering on the road in front of the Milagres hall, Mangalore. We were all sitting in protest against the incident mentioned above. Most of the political leaders, sisters and fathers, and a big number of lay people both men and women were present. At about 5:30 pm there was some verbal altercation between the youth in the protest group and the police who had gathered in very large numbers and Fr. Francis Serrao SJ was addressing the protesters, when the police charged at the peacefully sitting protesters with lathis and began to cane them left and right. They also fired tear gas shells without any warning and forced the protesters to take shelter in the Milagres Hall.
This is the way the government machinery was used to fulfill their aim and it certainly gave the impression that the perpetrators of the crime will be let loose even this time.
On the other hand, a TV news channel reported that there was stone pelting on the police. When the police force was ready with everything to beat us with, including their bullet proof shields, lathis and tear gas shells, the news channel reported only that there was stone pelting by the crowd. Luckily for us, another channel showed a very good picture of police men pelting stones and tear gas shells.
Many youth were hurt by the heavy lathi blows. One of the sisters, Sr Pramila of Sisters of Charity of Mangalore was hit with a stone from the police while she was right inside the gate of the Milagres Church Hall. She was injured very badly and taken to Fr. Muller’s Hospital and it is not yet known about the state of her eye.
We ask you all to pray for us and for peace in our region. We need your prayers and perhaps some united action; a glimpse of which we experienced today.
Also read
Attack on Churches: Police Lathi Charge and Tear Gas the Crowd! | |
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| Chris, UAE |
Sep 18, 2008 |
| I APPEAL TO ALL THE CHRISTAIN COMMUNITY AND THE OTHER MINORITY SECTIONS TO UNITE AND FIGHT AGAINST THE ATROCITIES BY THE SANGH PARIVAR OR BAJRANG DAL OR WHO EVER THEY ARE...THEY ARE THE REAL CULPRITS WHO ARE TRYING TO SPOIL THE COMMUNAL HARMONY AND RUIN THE COUNTRY .THEY SHOULD REMEMBER THAT THERE IS A LIMIT FOR TOLERANCE AND OUR YOUTH WILL BE FORCED TO TAKE UP THE REBELEOUS ACTIONS AGAINST THE PERPORATORS. HOWEVER WE THANK SHRI.VEERAPPA MOILY FOR WARNING THE SANGH PARIVAR THAT THE CENTRAL WILL NOT HESITATE TO BAN THESE VIOLATORS. THE CENTRAL SHOULD TAKE UP THE ACTION ON THIS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THESE PEACEFUL MINOR COMMUNITY FORCED TO SURRENDER TO THE VIOLENCE. WE ARE ALL INDIANS AND WE LOVE TO BE INDIANS. JAI HIND. |
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| Amith Kotian, India |
Sep 17, 2008 |
| Oscar has rightly said and his statement justifies the issues. There is no record of violence between hindu and christians in the past. |
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| Oscar, Toronto, Canada |
Sep 17, 2008 |
Protestants started this problem. Catholics and Hindus have been living together for many years. Catholics never try to convert using money. We have only converted on basis of faith. By trying to aggressively convert, Protestants have caused trouble for ALL christians, by playing into the hands of right wing Hindu parties.
Let us live in peace by respecting other religions and not by insulting Hindus with dangerous literature about their gods. |
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| cicily, American Samoa |
Sep 17, 2008 |
The attacks on Christians all over the world shows and confirms again and again, that is the real life of crucifixion of Christ and it gets popularity automatically by crucifixion of the Christian followers even if they are in minority in the Christ Year-2008.
"There’s a time, there’s a time
Both for sowing and for reaping there’s a time.
Time for losing, time for gain,
Time for joy and time for pain,
Every purpose under heaven has a time."
We should pray for them those who are against the Christian faith. |
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| Jeneth D'souza, Bahrain |
Sep 16, 2008 |
| Where is the democracy? |
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| Rajesh_kumar, India |
Sep 16, 2008 |
Mr. Veerappa Moily, Mr. Janardana Poojari, Mr. Vasanth Salyan, Mr. George Fernandes, Mr. Oscar Fernandes, Ms. Manorama etc...etc... These are some of the so called leaders whom we have Voted in the past. This Year we Voted for This Party. We deserve this for Voting this party ??? Are the Old Veterans Missing ??? will they come to ask for Votes in the ELECTION THAT IS REQUIRED SOON.??
We could not ask for anything better from them... |
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| Francis Fernandes, India |
Sep 16, 2008 |
| It's very, very sad that after all that the Christians have done for the poor, sick, hungry and dying people - this is the reward we get. Is there one person like Mother Theresa in the BJP or the Sang Parivar? As pointed out by one lady - lakhs and lakhs of Hindu and Muslim students study in Christian Institutes - HAS ONE SINGLE PERSON BEEN CONVERTED? Why don't the BJP and Sang Parivar people go to these schools and ask these students. I have a very strong feeling that the literature that the BD is using to say that the Christians are condemning the Hindu Gods IS MADE UP BY THEM TO GAIN HINDU SUPPORT. A CBI probe should be conducted to find out the authenticity of those documents as to who has done it. Then whosoever be the culprit - be severely punished, be it a Christian or a Hindu. Everyone should and MUST respect the others faith. |
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| Francis Fernandes, India |
Sep 16, 2008 |
| BJP always say that The Congress cannot do anything without Mrs. Sonia Gandhi's permission. On the other hand, BJP politicians cannot even breathe without the Sang Parivar's permission. So who's mocking who? |
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| Walter Miranda, India |
Sep 15, 2008 |
Thank God to open the mind of Mr. Home Minsiter Mr. Acharya for openly accepting the fault of their (BJP Govt.) agents of VHP, B.DAL and Sangparivari in front of the general public declarling openly that their agents who all went to stop the conversion comitted a mistake by taking the law and order in their hand and targeted the christians (roman catholic churches) worship places even after targeting the prayer halls of New life fellow ship. Thank you Mr. home minister for addmitting openely the fault of your chamchaas.
As the christians have their own worship places in the form of churches and not in the form of prayer halls Which our supirior people of new life fellow ships are holding some where in the rented buildings or some where inside somebody,s house, how these sangpariwar, VHP and B.DAL did not aware of the differences of worship places. If the new life people also have their own worship places like the roman catholic church with cross sign on the roof top of the church then if the miscreants were attacked the churches of christian communities that time we can say that it was misunderstanding in the miscreansts why they were did not make out which was roman catholic christian church and which was new life church. But here is clear visible eveindence and they all clearly know which is the church of roman catholics and which is the worship place of new life people. So these people purposely attacked the christians roman catholic churches. |
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| Maxim Crasta, India |
Sep 15, 2008 |
| After this Record of BJP in Gujarat, Orissa, MP, no Christian or Muslim should vote for this Party in India. The BJP ahould be irradicated from the states like Kerala, Karnataka and Goa. They are a party with difference and that is this. Are all our Christians Polititians Sleeping? When they want Admissions in the schools they choose best of our schools. |
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| Sunil Kunder, UAE |
Sep 15, 2008 |
Reference to the comments of "A Protestant, India". Please open your ears and listen. You protestant are the culprits and because of you protestant the catholics and hindu are on the streets fighting. I know you protestant are very smart and strategically place people in your net. You guys because of 5 kg of rice, radio set, and few rupees given in charity gets converted and start dragging others to convert their religion. Catholics never does the conversion.
I am against the damage done to the church, but this was unstopable for we human beings are very sensitive when religious sentiment is hurt. One may forgive a murder but religion is a very personal and touchy issue. So my dear "A Protestant, India" please stop this conversion nonsense. |
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| FRANCIS FERNANDES, India |
Sep 15, 2008 |
| DURING THE ELECTION - THESE SAME BJP POLITICIANS COME TO OUR DOOR STEP LIKE BEGGARS ASKING FOR OUR SO CALLED VALUABLE VOTES. WAKE UP CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS - NEVER EVER EVER VOTE FOR BJP - THEY HAVE SHOWN US THEIR TRUE COLOURS. WHERE THE HELL IS GEORGE FERNANDES - IS HE HIDING IN SOME BJP OFFICE UNDER THE DESK? |
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| K.Venugopal, India |
Sep 15, 2008 |
| Christian missionaries are past-masters in conversions. Why should not Hindus, who are the primary target of conversions, worry about this demographic attack upon them? As Hindus get more organized, violence against those who poach their community would become more and more inevitable. Either the Christians should convert the Hindus faster than the Hindus organize or they have to face the wrath of a majority community. The best solution would be for both communities to come together in fraternity and this would be possible only if Christians give up on conversions and instead simply seek to share the joy of Christ with everyone, without any demographic motives. Then no doubt Hindus would keep their doors wide open to welcome the Christians as one more of the innumerable communities the Hindus have accommodated down through the millennia. |
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| A Protestant, India |
Sep 15, 2008 |
| Attack on Catholics or Protestants, or Members of New life is a attack on Christians and we all have to unite and defend ourselves from the illiterate Sangh Parivar- RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal. |
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| Jerome, Saudi Arabia |
Sep 15, 2008 |
| Atleast we should unite now and fight against them. Attack on Holy sacrament in condemnable and thats why there is such protest is going on. Sometimes we should blame ourselves for this. I think when Christian leader stayed for election, we christians did not vote for him instead selected BJP Candidate. Otherwise, how Krishna Palemar or Yogish Bhat would have won, this is the Chrisitan Majority place. Atleast wake up now and we should select our own leaders next time. |
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| usha D'souza, Bangaloe, India |
Sep 15, 2008 |
We are praying for peace in the country, for saving the country from all evil acts. But now the we have to say that they are testing the faith of unity of Christians. It is nothing different than putting a hand into lions mouth.
I want to ask some questions to the police & goverment?
1. Why still they could not stop the breaking the churchs even today this moment they are trying to break the churches and attach on the christians
2. why the police's are not strong enough or goverment is willingly trying to do this? if these two are not able to condem or secure the christians please leave in the hands of the people for the answer for destroying the attackes
3. yesterday it was announced that new life churches were attacked, but why now even knowingly the Roman catholic churchs are attacked to day. will the goverment is able to answer for this
4.why the people who are praying are distrubed |
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| CLARENCE, India |
Sep 15, 2008 |
I stongly protest the atrocities done by the police. They must have been given orders from the Pro Hindu BJP Govt (a slave of the Sangh Parivar- RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal) to attack the christians. I saw on television how the police were destroying bikes and cars by themselves and blame the catholics for this. THe whole episode was planned so as to bring maximum effect. They started with the muslims and now it is the turn of the Catholics in the Country. They have been eying our community from a long time. They are jealous of our huge religious properties, our education system in the country. Let us bring it to their notice that this so called faction called New Life and the Korean's so called prayer group organizations are doing these conversions. I feel we should try to stop these people first and then take on the Govt. If the GOVT WILL CONTINUE TO HELP AND SUPPORT THEIR HIDDEN AGENDA OF SANGH PARIVAR the Govt should resign and this should be first done by the CM.
Imagine if L.K. Advani becomes the PM we will have to leave our country. IT IS TIME FOR AWAKENING.
PRAY TO GOD TO GIVE US THE COURAGE TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY SHINE AND RISE. |
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| Neil Rodrigues, India |
Sep 15, 2008 |
We need to raise awareness. Awareness Globally and within the country.
I have been following this story though I am out of Mangalore and writing it on my blog.
Http://voiceofneil.wordpress.com
However, I feel our greatest strength is in prayer. Let us not stop that. |
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| joyce Sabina Lobo, India |
Sep 15, 2008 |
The recent incidents that were religiously coloured against the communities Christians in Orissa, the Muslims, again the Christians targeted in various parts of Karnataka. These are the very states who have BJP government at the helm or either governments supported by the BJP. We define a ‘terrorist’ as a person who creates terror in the hearts of the people. This is exactly what we feel by the actions of the BJP and its minion organisations like Bajrang Dal, Sangh Parivar, RSS etc. This is the only party formed on religious lines and caters solely and exclusively for the great ‘Hindutva Raj’. By Hindutva, I don’t mean Hinduism. Hinduism means ‘a way of life’; it fails to meet the parameters of a religion.
Following are a few pertinent questions that I would like to ask:
1.Are the people of other religions than Hinduism, not Indians?
2.Are people following different faiths, other than Hinduism, foreigners? Is their skin colour, eating habits, way of living, their rights and duties, etc different?
3.The very elements that have contested elections on the name of secularism, are they following secularism after winning elections and gaining power? If they still call themselves secularists, then why do they let negative elements become the moral police and the so called ‘secular authorities’ sit tight without making an effort to take an action?
4.These Hindutva elements assume that through violence they can bring in ‘Ram Rajya’, then where on earth were they when the people of lower castes, who were also a part of the ‘Hindutva’ fabric, were discriminated? Or are the people of lower castes included under the list of victims of these divisive elements? If this is the way then they intend to bring Manu Rajya and not Ram Rajya!
5.Will the Buddhists, Jains, Parsiees, Jews etc be the next to be targeted in India?
It was under the esteemed government of the then Prime Minister the late Mrs. Indira Gandhi, that three main terms were added: ‘integrity of the nation’, ‘socialism’ and ‘secularism’. A deeper look into these three terms explains the changing dynamics in terms of the state vis-à-vis unity. Socialism, ensured to achieve an egalitarian society giving the marginalised sections of the society and communities to legally and constitutionally enjoy their rights. Secularism gave a neutral platform to the state while dealing with its citizens and also to the people to practice or not to practice any faith. It seems that the present government under UPA chaired by that Congress leader seems to have failed to take any action to ensure socialism or secularism. This letter is to remind the Union government that they do not repeat history to gain votes. If they remember that under Prime Minister the late PV Narasimha Rao, the Union government under congress, failed to secure secularism when the Babra Masjid was torn down. The result was that certain sections of the society lost faith in Congress and were swept out of power. It is time it took a tough stance against these Hindu Jehadists too, if the UPA led government does not wants to make a mockery of the 42nd amendment to the constitution and the efforts put by the late Mrs. Indira Gandhi whom I believe was in Congress.
My final argument to those divisive elements is that: “If you are able to cleanse the society of all religions save for one, do you think that divisiveness will stop.”
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| Walter Miranda, India |
Sep 14, 2008 |
Well this is a pre planned and arranged attack on Christian churches if the miscreants want to attack on the prayer halls of New life fellow ship why they targeted christian churches as new life have no church like we roman catholics are having all over the country. as they conducting their prayers one day in a week or twice a week. So many years the Milagres chruch was located in the center of the Mangalore city so how the sangapariwar people do not aware that it is a roman cathtolic church and not new life prayer hall. This attack was comitted purposely by the sangparivar people, VHP, and B. Dal. In this incident where is our local MLA,s BJP ministers Krishna Palemar, UOgish Bhat and the Home minister Acharya they were not utter even signle word about attack on christian churches before these ministers where talking big big things about christians and also gave support to christians now they are silent? These all are agents of BJP Govt. who made false promises to the people of the country before election and now they enjoy thier position instead full fill their promises which they made before the eletction. Krishna was a student of Chritianschool and not utter a single word about this attack.
Well all christian brothers and sisters wake up now the time is come to fight all together by joining our hands to protect our living right in the society so all christians come out from your house on the street and not stick to your house lets we join together protest peacefully for attack on our chruches. |
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| Roshan Pais, India |
Sep 14, 2008 |
Open Letter to DC, Palemar, YOgish Bhat:
Please take a note that Behavior of POLICE FORCE in recent tensions in Mangalore has been despicable!
They have entered the premises of worship and instigated violence by using lathicharge and moreover reports allege that they have damaged their own vehicles!
Catholics had gathered there for a peaceful meeting - instead of providing them protection these police personell have attacked them- THIS IS SERIOUS VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
I urge all the cops to be suspended and an inquiry started.
Secondly things do not go out of hand unless there is passive support by the police to those BD activists.
My conclusion is that : these events are carefully orchestrated to paint the peace loving catholics of Mangalore as aggressive and the hand of police force in this cannot be denied. |
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| Alwyn D'souza, Canada |
Sep 14, 2008 |
| Brothers and sisters in Canada, please wake up to help our loved ones in Mangalore and Orissa. It is a high time for us to protest here in Canada and support our christians sufferings in India. Our concerns has to be expressed publicly to the authorities, Embassies and others to make them aware of the issues. Chritians are peace lovers and has no value in todays socity in India. God blessed all of us with good educations.We know to fight the battle, so its a high time for us to fight the battle peacefully to defeat the devils hurting our community. |
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| V D'Souza, USA |
Sep 14, 2008 |
Even if we are across the world, we are all with you in prayers. It is no secret that BJP is an agent of Sangh Parivar organizations. And now as the Government is under BJP's control, they will use the state machinery for their own benefit. BJP will divide and rule. The pity is they don't know what they are doing. They are breaking our country. It is time not only for Christians, but also for people from other religions to come together and protest the attitude of the BJP and its government. When we are boasting ourselves as the largest democracy of the world and when we elect Governments, how can a Government elected by the people fail to protect people? How can the government let some religious fundamentalist organizations to take the law in their own hands and yet do not do anything about it?
There might be contentions issues, but that doesn't mean that Govt. let people to take the law in their own hands? BJP within 100 days has shown its real face and failed completely to fulfill its constitutional obligations towards people. It has failed to protect the rights of the people.
Even when VHP and Bajrang Dal have openly admitted their involvement in these attacks through press conferences, our Govt. is watching the events as a mute spectator.
If BJP wants Sangh Parivar to dictate the terms and conditions, why we need a government? Chief Minister of Karnataka can go on vacation.
So as we pray for unity, peace and also to bring back normalcy in the region, we must also know that the provocation has come from Bajrang Dal and Sangh parivar organizations. Christians are peace loving people and India is a country of all religions. So instead of religiously dividing the country, we must all irrespective of the religion must protest these kinds of attacks on people, to maintain secular fabrication of our country.
BJP always says that, they are against terror, so why can't they arrest people who are openly threatening and becoming a law & order problem? Where are the local MLA's from the region belonging to BJP? Don't they have any duty to citizens of this country even if they belong to minority religions? |
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