The Hindu : I have forgiven them: Gladys Staines

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 23, 2003

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I have forgiven them: Gladys Staines

By Prafulla Das

BHUBANESWAR SEPT. 22. As the Designated CBI Judge, Mahendra Nath Patnaik, handed out the death sentence to Dara Singh and sentenced 12 others to life imprisonment for killing the Australian missionary, Graham Stuart Staines and his two sons, Gladys Staines, widow of the slain missionary, said that she had forgiven the killers and had no bitterness for them.

"I have forgiven the killers and have no bitterness because forgiveness brings healing and our land needs healing from hatred and violence. Forgiveness and the consequences of the crime should not be mixed up," Ms. Staines said in a statement issued from her Mission House residence in Baripada town of Orissa's Mayurbhanj district.

"God in Christ has forgiven me and expects His followers to do the same. The Bible says: "To whomsoever you forgive their sins will be forgiven". Therefore, in the light of eternity we all need forgiveness of our sins to enter heaven,'' Ms. Staines said.

Observing that "no individual was above the law of the land," Ms. Staines said : "I have no comments regarding the law taking its own course in crime and punishment." We are called to be under subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except God and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. We need to honour both God and man respectively," Ms. Staines said. Ms. Staines lives in Baripada, Orissa where she is running the leprosy home that was managed by her late husband. She is also setting up a referral hospital for leprosy patients close to the existing Leprosy Home in the vicinity of Baripada town.

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I have forgiven them: Gladys Staines