An annual report by the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), a Protestant organization, recorded 327 violent attacks on Christians in 2020.
The report said the targeted attacks included five murders, 26 incidents of social boy-cotting and six incidents of churches being destroyed or burned.
“The incidents recorded are by no means an exhaustive list as many remain unreported and unrecorded even in normal years because of the fear of further atrocities,” Rev. Vijayesh Lal, EFI general secretary, said in the report published on Jan. 14.
“Christians, especially pastors in rural areas, were victims of violence and had their congregational prayers disturbed and places of worship attacked. Political excoriation, police impunity and vigilante groups on their trail marked the experience of many Christian communities in several parts of the country at the height of the Covid-19 spread.”
Report: Indian Christians ‘Persecuted in All Areas of Life’
Christians in India face persecution “in all areas of public and private life,” according to a study by the Christian Aid group Open Doors. In majority Hindu India, “Christians are persecuted in all areas of public and private life, and anti-conversion laws (currently in nine states, with more considering adoption) are abused to harass and intimidate Christians,” according to the organization. Although few people are actually convicted under the anti-conversion laws, related cases “can drag on for years.” According to the U.S.-based Open Doors, “Hindu extremists” in India “believe that all Indians should be Hindus, and that the country should be rid of Christianity and Islam. They use extensive violence to achieve this goal, particularly targeting Christians from a Hindu background.”
Andhra’s Anglican schools dying
In a distressing development for Andhra Pradesh, several Anglican schools, which did decades long yeoman service in taking free education to the most oppressed sections of the society, have shut down over the years. Even as these schools shut down one after the other, there was gross inaction and negligence from successive governments of the day and officials who let them suffer a silent death.
India honours Spanish Jesuit missionary posthumously
The Indian government on January 25 honoured a deceased Spanish Jesuit missionary with one of the nation´s highest civilian awards. Father Carlos Gonzalvez Valles, who died Nov. 9, 2020, in Madrid, capital of Spain, is among 102 chosen for Padma Shri (Lotus honored), the fourth highest in the awards. The posthumous award honours the Jesuit missionary’s contribution to literature and education.
Nagpur’s St Charles Seminary gets new rector
St Charles Major Seminary that began in the central Indian city of Nagpur with one student and a teacher in a bullock cart 169 years ago has a new rector. Dominican Father Aquin Noronha, a former missionary to South Africa, has been elected to lead the seminary that currently trains priests for 42 dioceses in central and northern Indian dioceses. Father Noronha will assume office in June when the seminary begins its new academic year.
Asian bishops’ former communication secretary dies
Divine World Father Franz Josef Eilers, former executive secretary of the social communication office of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), died on January 13 in Manila, capital of the Philippines. The German missionary to Asia was 89. The death occurred at 2:40 pm local time (12:10 pm India), according to a press note from Salesian Father George Plathottam, the current executive secretary of the FABC Office of Social Communication.
Catholic legislator reprimanded for insulting Indian nun
Kerala Legislative Assembly has reprimanded a Catholic legislator for insulting a Catholic nun after she accused a bishop of raping her. Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan read out a statement on Jan. 22 saying P.C. George acted against a house member’s dignity in his criticism of the nun. George’s criticism and comments “violated the house members’ code of conduct” and lowered ‘the dignity of the members,” the speaker told the house.
Hindu fanatics raze Protestant church in southern India
An under-construction Protestant church in the southern Indian state of Telangana was demolished by a mob of radical Hindus on January 20. Gethsemane Prardana Mandiram (church) in Mahabubabad was attacked by a group of Hindu fanatics headed by a leader named Bura Venakanna, said Pastor Muhammad Afzal Paul.
“Local Christians believe that the main reason for the attack is that there are around 80 churches of different denominations in a radius of 10 kilometres, which the Bajrang Dal [a radical Hindu group] could not accept,” Pastor Levi of the Power of Jesus Fellowship, a Protestant church, told.
“The local administration has stationed some police officers at the church attack site and it is under investigation. The church is very small with about 100 members.
“A Muslim named Muhammad Afzal, who converted to Christianity and who is now known as Pastor Muhammad Afzal Paul, takes care of the attacked church. Christians are terrified but believe that the investigation will have no impact as most probably the officials will ask both parties to compromise.
“The majority of people in Mahabubabad are Hindus. There is a chance that the issue will go in their favour but we have full faith in the system and believe the truth will come out.”
However, Pastor Samuel of Maranatha Prarthana Mandiram, another Protestant church, said these incidents are occasionally reported in the media and attacks on the church are suspected land disputes. “Some vested interest people want to sort out a land dispute and take the law into their hands,” he added.
Indian Baptists urge faithful to ignore Covid vaccine prophesy
A Christian group in the north-eastern Indian state of Nagaland has urged the faithful not to believe a claim by a healing ministry that the Covid-19 vaccine is against the will of God.
The Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC), an association of Baptist Churches in the Christian-majority state, has warned people to ignore such claims.
In a press release issued on Jan. 17, the CBCC clarified that a prophecy made by the Eastern Zion Healing Ministry of Pfutsero claimed that the Covid-19 vaccine is “not the will of God.”
“Such false prophecies are contrary to the Bible and the Christian faith and believers should be careful about alleged divine revelations,” its statement said.
Catholic Bishop James Thoppil of Kohima, the state capital, said Nagaland has several small sects over which Christian churches have no control.
“Most of these sects parted ways from the main churches for various reasons. They are free to give any statements which are not in line with mainline churches,” he said.
“There are many healing and prayer ministries here which claim they are the main church. They sometimes even argue that followers of the Catholic Church are fake Christians, but we don’t pay heed to their claim as it has no meaning.
“The Covid-19 vaccine is intended for all. Let’s not make it a religious issue. People are free to get vaccinated as they wish. The CBCC is an associate church of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council and we support its stand on the issue.”
Church leaders slam violence at Indian farmers’ rally
Church and political leaders in India have condemned a clash between police and farmers that resulted in the death of one farmer and injuries to more than 80 others.
The farmers’ rally in New Delhi on India’s 72nd Republic Day on Jan. 26 became out of control after the protesting farmers clashed with police near the Income Tax Office and Red Fort as police used baton charges and tear gas to disperse them.
“Our solidarity is with the protesting farmers and with the family of the man who lost his life during the protest march due to an accident. We support their demand for a repeal of farm land laws and stand with them,” Father Eugene Perera, secretary of the Indian bishops’ Office for Labour, told UCA News.
“It is very unfortunate that one farmer lost his life and many were injured, including police personnel, and we condemn the avoidable incident. Had the authorities been more alert, things would not have gone out of control.” Farmers have been protesting against bills passed last September, claiming that the laws are anti-farmer and will harm the agricultural sector.
Farmers who have been protesting on the outskirts of the national capital for the last two months say the new laws will deprive them of the minimum support prices that the government assured them for their produce.