End to violence sought

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Christians attend a peace meeting in New Delhi Dec 27 India's Catholic bishops have demanded a federal investigation into Hindu violence against Christians in Orissa state and are seeking compensation for damages Christians suffered. The violence began Christmas Eve when about 500 Hindu radicals attacked a tent displaying a Nativity scene that Christians of various denominations put up in Bamunigam, eastern India. Over four days, extremists attacked and burned five parish churches, at least 50 village churches, six convents, three presbyteries, six hostels, two seminaries and a vocational training center. As many as 400 Christian homes have been looted and set ablaze. "The speed with which the attacks were carried out" suggests the attacks were well-planned and orchestrated, said church officials at a news conference Dec. 31 at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India center in New Delhi.

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