Anti-Christian attacks spread across Indiaby Staff
September 19, 2008
(christiansunite.com) - The violence in Orissa sparked by the recent assassination of Hindu leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati has emboldened Hindu militants in nearby states to launch attacks on Christians.
On September 5, four members of Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity order were attacked by approximately 20 Bajrang Dal activists at the Durgh train station in Chhattisgarh state. The two nuns and two helpers were forced off the train and handed over to police officers by a mob chanting anti-Christian slogans. They were accused of the "kidnapping and forced conversion" of four babies between one and two years old whom they were transporting (with proper documentation) from Raipur to the Shishu Bhava charity centre in Bhopal. The nuns were detained overnight and the babies taken to a government hospital. At last report, the children have still not been returned to the sisters.
On September 7, the 86-year-old St. Bartholomew Church building was burned down in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. Although the church watchman has accepted blame for the arson attack, local Christians argue that the police are protecting the Hindu militant groups truly responsible. In Kolar district, Karnataka, Hindu militants stormed into another church building, tore up Bibles, hymnals and curtains, and beat several members present. The militants seized the pastor and took him to a nearby temple where he was pressured into observing Hindu rituals. He was released only after he gave the militants a written declaration stating that he would not return to the village or continue any church activities.
Pray that Christians under attack will know God's care and provision. Pray for Christians to be strong in the face of pressure to deny Christ. Pray that the international community will voice deep concern for the Christians in India who are being persecuted for their faith (Proverbs 31:8-9).
To learn more about the situation Christians face in India, go to
http://www.persecution.net/india.htm.
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