Kerala - Kochi   

Delay in sending troops decried

KOCHI: Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, has condemned the Union government’s alleged delay in sending para-military forces to Orissa where churches were burnt down last week and over a dozen persons killed in large-scale rioting.

The Cardinal was addressing priests, nuns and others who had gathered at the CMI Prior General’s House in Kakkanad on Saturday to pay tributes to Thomas Pandipally, who was recently murdered in Andhra Pradesh.

“The Centre is dithering to send troops to Orissa. I had taken up the issue with the Prime Minister. Now, it has found refuge in the excuse that troops can be sent only on the request of the State government,” he said.

He added that prayers and fasting would be held in churches across India on September 7.

Reminding that Jesus Christ was among the lakhs of people who laid down their lives for the welfare of humanity, Cardinal Vithayathil said Gospel workers had never been afraid of death and martyrdom.

“Religious fanatics gain nothing by killing priests, Christians and setting churches on fire. They will only be able to take life out of the physical body. The church has never run scared of fanatics. In fact, it has only grown from the blood spilt by missionaries.”

He said missionaries only spread the Gospel. It was left to the people to convert to Christianity or not.

Referring to the murder of Fr. Pandipally, he said the reason for the killing was not yet known. “He was engaged in helping the marginalised sections of society. Everybody must pray for his family members.” The priest’s mother too was present at the function.

Thiruvalla Archbishop Thomas Mar Kurilose said the people should be hopeful that things would change for the better. Over the centuries, the Church had outlived the many challenges that it faced, he said.

Auxilliary Bishop of the Varapuzha Archdiocese Joseph Karikkassery said the agonising cries of Fr Pandipally should not go unheard. “In Orissa, many victims of violence were still hiding in the forests fearing for their lives. Christianity will grow even if the government stifles the constitutional rights of Christians.”

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