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Violence Continues in Orissa State

The Society of Jesus in the United States is increasingly alarmed by the continuing outbreaks of violence in the India state of Orissa against Christians and other minorities by Hindu extremists. With many of our American and Indian Jesuits in the region ministering to the people of Orissa, we are extremely concerned for our brothers’ safety and the safety of the people they serve. The violence has spread and is occurring in other states throughout India, only increasing the need for greater protection by the government.

“As soon as we received the urgent plea from our Jesuits in the area, we were called into action and joined them in solidarity against these attacks,” said Jesuit Father James Stormes, secretary for social and international ministries of the Jesuit Conference of the United States. “The Jesuits have consistently worked for peace and reconciliation in the area and are horrified by the sufferings of the ordinary people who always pay the price for these kinds of conflicts.”

Jesuits in the U.S. have been in touch with the Department of State and the Indian Embassy to raise awareness about the violence and to call for protection of Christians and minorities.  More than 26 Christians and minorities have been killed in the preceding three weeks, more than 50 places of worship have been attacked, 15 churches and convents have been destroyed and more than 4,000 homes of Christians in villages in the Kandhamal district have been burned. The distinguished Jesuit-run Xavier Institute of Management was threatened when mobs passed through the city of Bhubaneswar in the Jamshedpur Province.

The violence was sparked by the Aug. 23 murder of Hindu leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswathi, a Hindu leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). Although the Indian government has blamed Maoist rebels for the killing, a backlash has been carried out against Christians and other minorities.

In response, 50,000 villagers have fled into the forests and relief camps have been set up for over 20,000 villagers who are frightened to return to their homes. Jesuit Brother Paul Marla, who lives in the area where the swami was murdered, is reported to have gone into hiding as have an unknown number of priests, nuns and lay catechists. “The relief camps in Kandhamal district of Orissa are filled with hungry and sick people,” said Jesuit Father Michael T. Raj, provincial head of the Jamshedpur province of the Society of Jesus. “Almost all of them have no homes to return to.”  

Protection for the minority population of Christians, who account for only 2.3% of the 1 billion residents of India, remains an upmost concern. “I was really shocked and disturbed by the inhuman atrocities being heaped upon the Christians in Orissa,” said Sebastian Puthenpura, a Jamshedpur Jesuit studying in New York. “Sadder still is the fact that the attacks on Christians are being carried out in other parts of India too.”

The violence has been condemned by Pope Benedict XVI who said he was “profoundly saddened” and called for communities to try to restore “peaceful coexistence”.

The Jesuit Conference has Jesuits available to speak to reporters about the situation in Orissa. Please contact Tricia Steadman Jump at 202-462-0400 to arrange an interview.