Bhubaneswar— The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has accepted a suggestion from an Archbishop from Odisha, Eastern India, to discuss the anti-Christian persecution of 2007 and 2008 in Kandhamal at its plenary meeting scheduled for March 2016.
Divine Word Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar will speak on Kandhamal for twenty minutes giving a panoramic view of Kandhamal violence from 2007 to 2016, and 10 minutes will be spent for question and answer.
It is good that CBCI is willing to know about the status of Kandhamal violence for the first time after almost eight years, said Archbishop Barwa, chairman of Odisha Catholic Bishops’ Council (OCBC).
Kandhamal, a district in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, was the scene of the worst anti-Christian violence the country witnessed in its modern history. It was the biggest and largest attack in 300 years in Indian history.
The Odisha Church wanted the bishops’ national body to discuss the possibilities of observing Kandhamal Martyrs’ Day at national level, initiating the canonization process for Kandhamal martyrs and putting up an exhibition on Kandhamal violence at the plenary venue.
However, putting up the exhibition on Kandhamal violence at the plenary venue was also rejected.
The appeal was made in a December 10 letter that Archbishop Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, the head of the Odisha Church, wrote to CBCI deputy secretary general Monsignor Joseph Chinnayyan.
The Divine Word prelate wrote on behalf of the OCBC. He also wanted the plenary to allow 20 minutes for Kandhamal survivors to share their experiences, which was turned down.
Meanwhile a group of priests and lay people is preparing a detailed list of Kandhamal martyrs, according to the dates of their death, denomination or religion.
The Kandhamal violence that lasted for nearly four months claimed more than 90 lives and wounded hundreds of people. More than 50,000 people were rendered homeless.
“It is quite disappointing that the victim’s survivors of Kandhamal would not get opportunity to interact with their own national church pastors as a delegate to share their faith journey as well as justice and peace struggles during eight years. This year when they thought normalcy has been restored, for the first time except for 2007, there was a Bandh called by Hindtuva groups and ensured Bandh on Christmas Day. Although it did not deter the spirit of Christmas, the very fact the Bandh was enforced by Hindutva forces show what things to come in future,” in his reaction about the CBCI’s acceptance to discuss on Kandhamal issue, Fr Ajay Kumar Singh, a rights activist working among the Kandhamal survivors.
“It is this apprehension, the persecuted community of Kandhamal wanted to share with their national pastors. As majority of Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals have not been able to visit to Kandhamal, the victims survivors wished to show how they went through persecuted times and how they are working towards truth and reconciliation processes through putting up exhibitions with a message we should not allow another Kandhamal to happen. I am sure it is not the people of Kandhamal; but national pastors would miss it to prepare for their own community,” said Father Singh, who hails from Kandhamal.
It is quite consoling that the only Archbishop Barwa would present 20 minutes to present the challenges of Kandhamal. I do understand Church has many more concerns and wish they all the best for some other times.
“I do understand that the Catholic Church has many more concerns and wish even if it is not Kandhamal, at least communalism issue and intolerance issue would find place in their deliberations in the plenary,” the priest said.
The biennial CBCI plenary is to be held at March 2-9 at St. John’s Medical College Campus, Bangalore, capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka.
During the plenary the bishops are expected to seek ways to help the Church respond meaningfully to modern challenges.
Heads of India’s 171 dioceses, auxiliary and retired bishops are expected to attend the assembly that has chosen the theme, “The Response of the Church in India to the present day Challenges.”
The bishops are meeting first time after a coalition headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the pro-Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian people’s party) formed the federal government on May 26, 2014. India was in the grip of an election fever when they prelates met last time at Palai in February 2014.
Justice Cyriac Joseph, a retired Supreme Court judge and acting chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, will be the main speaker at the next plenary, said CBCI secretary general Archbishop Albert D’Souza of Agra in a report.
The bishops have invited Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, to address the plenary. The plenary has slotted some space for eminent persons from other Christian denominations and religions to express their views on the issues the bishops will discuss.
The previous plenary was held at Palai, Kerala, in February 2014 with the theme, “Renewed Church for a Renewed Society – Responding to the Call of Vatican II.”