HONG KONG (UCAN) -- A priest from Shaanxi province was seriously injured after two men beat him up inside a mayor's office, where he had been invited to discuss issues related to a disputed Church property. Father Francis Gao Jianli, from Fengxiang diocese, is now hospitalized in Baoji city after he was attacked on March 16 at the mayor's office in Xiangong town in Chencang district, Church sources said. After the attack, Father Gao complained of numbness, dizziness and headache, but is feeling better now, according to the sources. The local Church has been asking for the return of a plot of land after a factory that occupied it since the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) closed down some years ago, sources said.
The Church and the district government's property management office have disputed ownership. However, both sides agreed that the land would not be developed until a settlement has been reached.
This year, the town government decided to take over the land, sources said. Catholics view this as a violation of their property rights and so Father Gao, another priest and about 100 lay Catholics have stayed at the site, now a garbage dump, in order to protect it.
On March 16, some strangers went to the site and threatened the Catholics, who then called the police for help. In that incident, a layperson in his 60s was hurt.
Subsequently, the mayor asked Father Gao to visit his office to address the issue, sources said.
As soon as the priest went inside the office alone, someone locked him inside and two strangers hit him, they said. Although the mayor tried to frighten away the Catholics accompanying the priest, they became furious and called for more Catholics to come so as to blockade the town government building. The mayor locked himself in a room and refused to come out, sources noted.
After Catholics rushed Father Gao to a hospital, they lodged a complaint with Baoji's Bureau for Letters and Calls, which handles public complaints against government departments.
"The bureau has asked Catholics not to complain further as the incident involved religious affairs and the town government office, and promised to settle the case within four weeks," a source said.
However, Church sources say they do not have much confidence in such a promise, as there had already been three major disputes over the property.
They said Father Gao has forgiven his attackers but insists the land issue be settled. The priest also thinks that local government officials should know that religion is not a minor issue and deserves serious attention, the sources added.
Christians wage spiritual battle against communists as election nears
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (UCAN) -- With the general election looming, Christians in Kerala state have joined in prayer programs to protest what they say are increasing attempts by the ruling communists to repress the Church.
Other people, however, say the Christian campaigners are over-reacting.
Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christians recently organized joint programs and prayer sessions in the state's 26 Catholic dioceses as India prepared for its five-phase parliamentary elections, scheduled to start on April 16.
Kerala's 21 million voters are scheduled to elect their 20 representatives to the national parliament on the first day of voting.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF), an alliance of leftist parties led by the Communist Party of India, has ruled Kerala since 2006. Church leaders accuse the front for creating anti-Christian policies during its 33-month rule.
They say the communists have attempted to restrict religious minority groups' rights to manage their own educational institutions. They also allege that the LDF government is behind several draft laws and rules seen as being against Christian faith and values.
According to them, the Kerala Law Reforms Commission, a cabinet-appointed panel reviewing laws and recommending amendments, has introduced a number of changes unacceptable for the Church.
The commission has suggested legalizing euthanasia, withdrawing a law that makes attempted suicide an offence, and imposing fines on couples for having more than one child.
Archbishop Maria Calist Soosa Pakiam of Trivandrum, at a prayer meeting in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram on March 15, urged people not to elect those who do not believe in religion -- a clear reference to communist candidates.
"There has been a move against Christians by the communist-run government in the education sector," he stated. The government's education department had also introduced text books that promote atheist and communist ideologies "with vengeance against the Church," the prelate argued.
Members of India's Catholic rites, the Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara and Latin Catholics, participated in the event, along with Orthodox, Church of South India and Mar Thoma Christians.
"I can't fight the communist government. I can only pray that good sense prevail among them. I hope that God will answer my prayers," said Annie Joseph, a Catholic joining the prayers in Thiruvananthapuram.
Bishop James Pazhayattil of Irinjalakuda, in his diocese's prayer event, also on March 15, reminded people to participate in the election as an opportunity "to register their protest."
Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur issued a pastoral letter accusing the communists of launching malicious campaigns against the Church and its leaders. The letter was read out in his parishes on March 15.
Christians are traditionally supporters of secular Indian National Congress Party in Kerala where pro-Hindu parties have not received much support.
State education minister M.A. Baby, however, dismissed the Church leaders' allegations against the communist party and the LDF government as baseless.
"I've made it clear that the education department is not targeting the Church institutions," he said in an interview, adding that the government's move on management of educational institutions was to target those institutions that focused on profit-making.
"We believe in social justice," the Catholic minister said. He criticized the bishops for waging an anti-communist war in the state. "If the Church has any grievances, they could have raised it with the government," he stated.
Journalist and political commentator P. Venugopal said Church leaders had ignored the fact that it was the leftist parties that came forward to protect Christians in last year's violence against the Church people in eastern India's Orissa state.
"Many Church leaders are self-centered and do not understand the socio-political situation on the national level," he said.
Christians represent only about 6 million of Kerala's 31 million population but they are politically strong in some areas.
Hindu threats spark heavy security around Jesuit college
MANGALORE, India (UCAN) -- Threats from Hindu radicals have forced a Jesuit college in southern India to conduct annual examinations under heavy police security.
Radical groups have accused St. Aloysius College in Mangalore of discriminating against some Hindu students who were denied hall tickets -- special admittance cards for examination participation.
The groups have also threatened to attack the college's principal and rector, forcing the civil administration to impose orders to prohibit outsiders entering the campus of 13,000 students during the March 13-26 examinations.
"Now the examinations are being held with tight police security," said Jesuit Father Richard Rego, who teaches in the college.
The students affected by the heightened security are from the Pre-University Course (PUC) department of the century-old campus, that also has a primary school and a high school. The college conducts bachelor's and master's courses in various subjects.
PUC principal John D'Silva, a Catholic layman, clarified the college had to refuse hall tickets to 12 students whose attendance fell short of the required minimum. Six of them are Hindus, four are Catholics, and two Muslims, he said. He pointed out that the college was only following a government rule on class attendance and the college action had "no communal angle" to it.
The government requires 75 percent attendance in classes before a student is eligible to take examinations. However, it gives discretionary powers to colleges to reduce the percentage if absence was due to college-related activities.
The affected students chalked up less than 50 percent attendance, the principal pointed out.
Hindu groups, however, said the college had denied tickets to about 50 Hindu students.
Srinidhi, a member of the national committee of the pro-Hindu Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarti Parishad (all India students' council), told the press the college had initially penalized more students for low attendance, but later issued hall tickets to many of them after making them pay fines.
He said the college had not informed students about their low attendance.
However, Father Rego said the institution regularly informs parents about their children's academic progress and attendance status. The propaganda against the college by Hindu radicals has been so strong that many people now believe the college has done some injustice to Hindu students, he added.
The priest said the college acts every year on the issue of low attendance, but this year radical groups used it as another excuse to attack a Church institution. He added that these groups hope to divide people on the basis of religion.
Karnataka state has witnessed several attacks on Christians and their institutions since the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian people's party) came to power in May 2008.
Rohit Someswar, a Catholic social activist, said the incident is part of harassment Christians have faced since then. According to him, the failure of 12 students, out of a total of 4,000, to meet attendance requirements, is "quite normal."
Source: UCA NEWS
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The Church and the district government's property management office have disputed ownership. However, both sides agreed that the land would not be developed until a settlement has been reached.
This year, the town government decided to take over the land, sources said. Catholics view this as a violation of their property rights and so Father Gao, another priest and about 100 lay Catholics have stayed at the site, now a garbage dump, in order to protect it.
On March 16, some strangers went to the site and threatened the Catholics, who then called the police for help. In that incident, a layperson in his 60s was hurt.
Subsequently, the mayor asked Father Gao to visit his office to address the issue, sources said.
As soon as the priest went inside the office alone, someone locked him inside and two strangers hit him, they said. Although the mayor tried to frighten away the Catholics accompanying the priest, they became furious and called for more Catholics to come so as to blockade the town government building. The mayor locked himself in a room and refused to come out, sources noted.
After Catholics rushed Father Gao to a hospital, they lodged a complaint with Baoji's Bureau for Letters and Calls, which handles public complaints against government departments.
"The bureau has asked Catholics not to complain further as the incident involved religious affairs and the town government office, and promised to settle the case within four weeks," a source said.
However, Church sources say they do not have much confidence in such a promise, as there had already been three major disputes over the property.
They said Father Gao has forgiven his attackers but insists the land issue be settled. The priest also thinks that local government officials should know that religion is not a minor issue and deserves serious attention, the sources added.
Christians wage spiritual battle against communists as election nears
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (UCAN) -- With the general election looming, Christians in Kerala state have joined in prayer programs to protest what they say are increasing attempts by the ruling communists to repress the Church.
Other people, however, say the Christian campaigners are over-reacting.
Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christians recently organized joint programs and prayer sessions in the state's 26 Catholic dioceses as India prepared for its five-phase parliamentary elections, scheduled to start on April 16.
Kerala's 21 million voters are scheduled to elect their 20 representatives to the national parliament on the first day of voting.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF), an alliance of leftist parties led by the Communist Party of India, has ruled Kerala since 2006. Church leaders accuse the front for creating anti-Christian policies during its 33-month rule.
They say the communists have attempted to restrict religious minority groups' rights to manage their own educational institutions. They also allege that the LDF government is behind several draft laws and rules seen as being against Christian faith and values.
According to them, the Kerala Law Reforms Commission, a cabinet-appointed panel reviewing laws and recommending amendments, has introduced a number of changes unacceptable for the Church.
The commission has suggested legalizing euthanasia, withdrawing a law that makes attempted suicide an offence, and imposing fines on couples for having more than one child.
Archbishop Maria Calist Soosa Pakiam of Trivandrum, at a prayer meeting in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram on March 15, urged people not to elect those who do not believe in religion -- a clear reference to communist candidates.
"There has been a move against Christians by the communist-run government in the education sector," he stated. The government's education department had also introduced text books that promote atheist and communist ideologies "with vengeance against the Church," the prelate argued.
Members of India's Catholic rites, the Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara and Latin Catholics, participated in the event, along with Orthodox, Church of South India and Mar Thoma Christians.
"I can't fight the communist government. I can only pray that good sense prevail among them. I hope that God will answer my prayers," said Annie Joseph, a Catholic joining the prayers in Thiruvananthapuram.
Bishop James Pazhayattil of Irinjalakuda, in his diocese's prayer event, also on March 15, reminded people to participate in the election as an opportunity "to register their protest."
Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur issued a pastoral letter accusing the communists of launching malicious campaigns against the Church and its leaders. The letter was read out in his parishes on March 15.
Christians are traditionally supporters of secular Indian National Congress Party in Kerala where pro-Hindu parties have not received much support.
State education minister M.A. Baby, however, dismissed the Church leaders' allegations against the communist party and the LDF government as baseless.
"I've made it clear that the education department is not targeting the Church institutions," he said in an interview, adding that the government's move on management of educational institutions was to target those institutions that focused on profit-making.
"We believe in social justice," the Catholic minister said. He criticized the bishops for waging an anti-communist war in the state. "If the Church has any grievances, they could have raised it with the government," he stated.
Journalist and political commentator P. Venugopal said Church leaders had ignored the fact that it was the leftist parties that came forward to protect Christians in last year's violence against the Church people in eastern India's Orissa state.
"Many Church leaders are self-centered and do not understand the socio-political situation on the national level," he said.
Christians represent only about 6 million of Kerala's 31 million population but they are politically strong in some areas.
Hindu threats spark heavy security around Jesuit college
MANGALORE, India (UCAN) -- Threats from Hindu radicals have forced a Jesuit college in southern India to conduct annual examinations under heavy police security.
Radical groups have accused St. Aloysius College in Mangalore of discriminating against some Hindu students who were denied hall tickets -- special admittance cards for examination participation.
The groups have also threatened to attack the college's principal and rector, forcing the civil administration to impose orders to prohibit outsiders entering the campus of 13,000 students during the March 13-26 examinations.
"Now the examinations are being held with tight police security," said Jesuit Father Richard Rego, who teaches in the college.
The students affected by the heightened security are from the Pre-University Course (PUC) department of the century-old campus, that also has a primary school and a high school. The college conducts bachelor's and master's courses in various subjects.
PUC principal John D'Silva, a Catholic layman, clarified the college had to refuse hall tickets to 12 students whose attendance fell short of the required minimum. Six of them are Hindus, four are Catholics, and two Muslims, he said. He pointed out that the college was only following a government rule on class attendance and the college action had "no communal angle" to it.
The government requires 75 percent attendance in classes before a student is eligible to take examinations. However, it gives discretionary powers to colleges to reduce the percentage if absence was due to college-related activities.
The affected students chalked up less than 50 percent attendance, the principal pointed out.
Hindu groups, however, said the college had denied tickets to about 50 Hindu students.
Srinidhi, a member of the national committee of the pro-Hindu Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarti Parishad (all India students' council), told the press the college had initially penalized more students for low attendance, but later issued hall tickets to many of them after making them pay fines.
He said the college had not informed students about their low attendance.
However, Father Rego said the institution regularly informs parents about their children's academic progress and attendance status. The propaganda against the college by Hindu radicals has been so strong that many people now believe the college has done some injustice to Hindu students, he added.
The priest said the college acts every year on the issue of low attendance, but this year radical groups used it as another excuse to attack a Church institution. He added that these groups hope to divide people on the basis of religion.
Karnataka state has witnessed several attacks on Christians and their institutions since the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian people's party) came to power in May 2008.
Rohit Someswar, a Catholic social activist, said the incident is part of harassment Christians have faced since then. According to him, the failure of 12 students, out of a total of 4,000, to meet attendance requirements, is "quite normal."
Source: UCA NEWS
.::. All my articles can be view here: MELTED HEARTS .::.
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