The Hindu : Kerala News : Special prayers in Catholic churches

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Saturday, Dec 29, 2007
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Kerala

Special prayers in Catholic churches

Special Correspondent

For restoration of peace in Orissa

Petitions to be sent to President, Prime Minister
Parishes to hold rallies

KOCHI: The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) has decided to observe Sunday as a day of prayer for the restoration of peace to Orissa, where widespread attacks on Christian faithful and institutions are continuing.

There will be special prayers in Catholic churches, apart from meetings and silent rallies in the parishes to offer support to the affected people. Petitions will be sent to the President, the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister and the Orissa Chief Minister from the 29 Catholic diocesan headquarters and the laymen’s association.

In a statement, Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil, president of the council, said the violence by religious fanatics was untenable to India’s culture. In the Cuttack-Bhubaneswar archdiocese alone, three parish and 48 village churches, six convents and as many hostels, a seminary, a training centre, a leprosy hospital and four priests’ homes had been attacked. Five persons had been killed and 400 houses, a tractor and other property burnt.

The council urged the faithful to pardon the culprits. The Kerala Region Latin Catholic Council, in a statement, said the Orissa attacks amounted to stabbing the Constitution and secular traditions of India. The Orissa Government and the police were just witnesses to the horrible violence, it said.

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