An inter-denominational Christian organization in northeast India has welcomed an ecumenical prayer initiative launched by a retired Catholic archbishop known for his relentless efforts for peace in the restive region.

Archbishop emeritus Thomas Menamparampil, of Guwahati (Assam state) and former apostolic administrator of Jowai (in Meghalaya state) has proposed a “special ecumenical prayer for peace and harmony among communities” at the start of each month, starting in August, by all Churches and friends, following an act of vandalism in the Catholic cathedral of Bongaigaon.

The initiative to calm tension in north-eastern India, one of the most restless regions of the country, has been enthusiastically welcomed by the United Christian Forum North East India (UCF NEI), a grouping of Christian, Catholic, Presbyterian and Baptist organizations.

Archbishop Menamparampil told Asianews that from August, the prayer that he composed would be recited throughout the region.

Church leaders have expressed solidarity with ethnic Gorkha people who are on an indefinite strike protesting for a separate homeland in the Darjeeling area of eastern India.

Since June 8 Darjeeling district in West Bengal state has witnessed violent clashes between local people and the police.

Street protests, stone throwing by the public as well as violence from both sides intensified since June 12 when the popular local organization Gorkha Janmukti Morcha called for an indefinite strike demanding for Gorkhaland — the creation of a separate homeland for ethic Gorkha people. At least three people have been killed in the violence so far.

“The church is not directly involved in the protest. But the church is with the people,” Bishop Stephen Lepcha of Darjeeling told ucanews.com explaining that local people are demanding for the right of self-governance as West Bengal state, under which the region falls, does not attend to the needs of local people.

“The problem arises here again because people do not see the government helping with any development in this hilly region. People suffer unemployment and poverty. The administration has failed miserably,” said Bishop Lepcha, a native of Darjeeling.

Outlawed fundamentalist groups have the support of political and religious leaders, and are not punished for violence against minorities. The economy excludes the most vulnerable groups in society. “Vegetarian terrorism” is unleashed against killing cattle. The retired abp Menamparampil said in an interview:

“The details of the incident are widely known. What we notice also in this case is a reco-gnizable pattern in the attack. The central area of worship is targeted, the holiest objects are dishonoured, the aim apparently is to publicly humiliate a minority community. The impression left behind, however, is one of robbery. No definite conclusions can be drawn. Officials put it to anti-social elements; they say that Hindu temples and Muslim masjids are also being robbed. What they do not say is that anti-social elements are being cultivated by fundamentalist groups, irresponsible politicians, and of late, even by corporations.

The police become helpless when lawless groups enjoy patronage from political ‘strong men’ or are linked with emotion-driven religious leaders. These groups are organized into senas and dals (armies and squads), brain-washed, and initiated into various forms of reckless social interventions, e.g. to act as moral police, or as self-appointed protectors of women, to defend cultural values, and humiliate minority communities. Assam seems to be free of such elements at this stage. But there is evidence that that groups may be under training.”

The Archdiocese of Bhopal organized a peaceful sit-in to highlight various problems Christians face in Madhya Pradesh state as well as in India.

Representatives of various Churches on June 20 spoke on topics related to Christians at the meeting held at Ambedkar park in Bhopal’s Tulsi Nagar area. The program began with a prayer.

The program was organized in the backdrop of recent arrest of a Catholic nun who accompanied some tribal women in a train. Madhya Pradesh in central India witnessed two similar incidents within a month. Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal noted that all missionary institutions employ people of all castes and religions. “Missionary organizations work on secular thinking, and respect all religions. But some fundamentalists always try to defame these institutions and attempts to give communal colors to any event occurring in these institutions,” the archbishop bemoaned in a message that was read out at the meeting.

Bishop Sebastian Francis of Penang in Malaysia says his maiden visit to India’s Trichur archdiocese would help him rediscover his ancestral roots.

Bishop Francis, who was given a rousing welcome in the Kerala archdiocese, told reporters that his grandparents had emigrated to Malaysia (then Malaya) in 1890s when the British ruled the two countries. The bishop’s family belonged to the Mechery family of Ollur in Thrissur district.

The 65-year-old prelate said he knew some of his maternal relatives live in Chennai, capital of neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, but had little contact with them. Bishop Francis’ family in Malaysia comprises five brothers and four sisters, who are now full-fledged Malaysian citizens. They have never visited India until now since they had not links with their Indian relatives.

A Catholic priest, who went missing in Scotland three days ago, has been found dead, an Indian news portal reported on June 24.

According to unconfirmed reports in deepika.com, the body of Father Martin Xavier Vazhachira was found on a beach closer to his residence.

The 33-year-old priest, a native of the southern Indian state of Kerala and a member of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate congregation, served as the parish priests of St. John the Baptist’s church in Corstorphine since October 2016. The parish comes under Edinburgh diocese that he joined on July 15, 2016..

Although Father Xavier went missing on June 21, the news about his disappearance appeared in media only two days later. According to the Malayalam portal, the priest had contacted his relatives in Kerala by phone on June 20 evening. He was doing doctoral studies along with the pastoral duties.