Sisters of Mother Teresa Assaulted by Hindu Radicals and Arrested

By Nirmala Carvalho
9/6/2008
Asia News (www.asianews.it/)

The Hindu Radicals attacked the religious women accusing them of the "kidnapping and forced conversion" of four children between one and two years old.

The pogrom of violent persecution against Christians in India calls for a global cascade of prayer, fasting, sacrifice and a response of solidarity by the faithful. Inspired by the life of Mother Teresa, her sisters continue the labor of love.

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NEW DELHI (AsiaNews) - The Missionaries of Charity are again in the crosshairs of the fundamentalists: yesterday, September 5 - the anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta - four sisters of Mother Teresa were attacked by about 20 Bajrang Dal activists at the Durgh train station in Chhattisgarh, a state in central India. The Hindu radicals forced them off the train, and then handed them over to police officers while chanting anti-Christian slogans.

The Hindu fundamentalists accused the sisters - Sr Mamta, the mother superior, Sr Ignacio, Sr Josephina, and Sr Laborius - of the "kidnapping and forced conversion" of four children between one and two years old, whom the religious were taking from their home in Raipur to the Shishu Bhava charity center in Bhopal. The activists followed the women to the police station, "insulting them and chanting slogans against the Christians".

The sisters presented all of the identification documents for the children and their travel permit, in addition to other documentation brought later by the religious from the house in Bilaspur. In spite of this documentation, the children were taken to be housed temporarily at the government hospital in Durg, while the documents and identity papers presented by the sisters are verified by the judicial authorities.

"The mob threatened to beat us up, but I was not afraid", Sr Mamta tells AsiaNews. Her only concern is for the children, who require care and assistance, "but most of all our love. We love these darlings like our own, that is our pain".

The sister says that she "prayed to Mother Teresa" (yesterday was the anniversary of her death, and her liturgical feast day), entrusting the "well-being of the children" to her. She emphasizes that this new episode of "persecution" is an integral part of the missionary task of "witnessing to Christ" entrusted to them by the founder of the order. Although she got no sleep during the night spent at the police station, the following morning - today, September 6 - she took part in Mass, "thanking God and our beloved Mother Teresa".

The Indian Catholic Church has taken a tough stance, through the head of the bishops' conference, who denounces the climate of hostility and terror toward Christians. "I am absolutely shocked", says Cardinal Osvaldo Gracias, "at the baseless and fabricated allegations of conversion levied against the Missionary of Charity". The prelate stresses that he knew "Mother Teresa personally, and I was also involved with her mission, and I can vouch for the fact that never has any baby or anyone been converted by the Missionaries of Charity, either in the remotest rural area or in any part of the world".

In condemning this new attack against the Christians, Cardinal Gracias accuses those who "are instrumental in poisoning minds" and foster interconfessional confrontation: "This is a climate of intolerance [against Christians] that is growing in the country, and it will have serious drastic long-term effects on Indian society".

This new episode of violence against the sisters confirms the growing climate of hostility toward Christians, in the crosshairs of the Hindu fundamentalists who are seeking by every means to eliminate their mission and their charitable works in the country. The tribals, the Dalits - untouchables - and the many orphaned children find in Christianity and in the activity of the religious a way to improve their condition and bring dignity to their lives. By attacking the Christians, the Hindu fundamentalists are above all harming India and its people, anchoring it in a feudal and backward past, based on the hierarchy determined by caste and by slavery.

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1 - 10 of 22 Comments

prashant
2 years ago
Well said anupama..
xxxxxxxx
4 years ago
I dont think the people commented above have ever read Bible / Bhagvatgita for 1 time in their life.

Read it then try to find the solutions for the situations.

i think we all are fighting for the same cause (Peace) as enemies. Try to understand. we all love our religion and respect other's and these radicals are evil and taking birth every second through out the world not only in India. Dont give them any religion's name. As they dont obey any religion.
As we all know, what they want and why they are demanding for mischeaf.
They are the dolls in the hands of people with poisioned mind.
Beaware of evil-------------------
anupama
4 years ago
hello my dear brothers and sisters... after reading all ur comments.. i wanted to put forward some of my views. I want to add on to something Hari said about caste system. pple misinterpret what was said in Chathurvarna in Bhagavathgeeta. it does NOT tell u the different caste division. it says about the different duties or dharma of people. it is peopl itself who create divides and that applies to christianity, hinduism and islam.i would like to say to Bin who comes from kerala that either he has been totally living in some other planet or he is trying to win a lost argument. i studied in a christian college and believe me a person who is from a catholic family will have more problems to marry their kid to a banthicost than to a hindu. so caste system is not what religion gives you, its in ur hearts. and a person who follows the words of christ is a real hindu.... if u really believe in christ u cannot deny hinduism. and its wrong to say that christianity is the only thing tht exists tht gives peace and love. thats were u go wrong. may it be any religion, all tells u to travel in the paths of truth and non violence. by saying tht u r the only pple who deserve to survive in this world u r disrespecting other beings. in Hinduism the sacred text Bhagavath geetha tells us to respect all living beings around you, not ' hindus' but all pple, when u refer to ur chritian brothers. is tht all u care for? and u can only care and love them wen they convert. why dont u sit back and learn to let the people for once be what they want to be instead of selling ur religion. i am not reasoning out the violence tht happened. any person who chooses violence over the poor does not belong to any religion. but the extend to wich u take conversion is sickening. I have seen sisters from St Teressas missionery giving out church stuff with the food at a site struck by tsunami.how can u try to propagate ur religion at a time when people have lost their home, their dear ones. i believe st terresa is an enlightened soul.... she has done great to humanity...but has she told tht u have to convert india in order to serve peace and love??? or for tht matter christ??? u see... u r living in a country which was once ' HINDUSTHAN'. we hav always been tolerant and if u look thru ur ancestors they must have probably been hindus.....and again wen you refer to the words "I am the Light, the Way, the Truth and the Life", remember Bin, it refers to the ultimate truth which u refer as jesus and we refer as Hari. if u believe in Jesus u annot deny Hari coz jesus has just reflected the vedas. Hinduism is the oldest religion on the face of earth and vedas do not pose questions but lead us through the entire cycle of life..... so first learn to respect other religion.... only then can u respect urs....... i do not support radical activists but i somehow feel and see u pushing all limits.... believe in ur religion and truely reflect on the inner meaning....
paul
4 years ago
A Christian crusaders should rise up, to protect our people and to give them hope that they are protected, its the time to fight back against Hindu radicals , let start an organization to protect our people, leaders can't help us at all.
Miles S. Jacobs
4 years ago
I think Christian Crusaders should be deployed to remove this threat of these murderous extremists.
John
4 years ago
Battle belongs to true God Jesus Christ. History can tell you. All the place where christians were persecuted Christianity grew. I think the final pages of this episode is already written. Christ the king will reign. It is a matter of time.
Thomas
4 years ago
persecution is nothing new to catholics, Jesus our lord and savior was persucuted, despised and was nailed to cross, and it was the precious blood of martyrs that watered the roots of this great heavenly kingdom. After all lest we forget we are the militant church, and we have been blessed to be chosed in these times to carry this flame, amidst the darkness of the world. Let us offer our prayers and fasting, to our dear brothers and sisters of christ who are in the frontlines.
simon fernandes
4 years ago
quote(hinduism provides everything to all)
why such corruption in india, why such inhuman poverty, why hatred of other religions by fanatics, why the occult side why so much desperation, why so much pollution and disregard for other human beings. please be realistic. faith and reason go hand in hand catholics are not zombies.
Tony Francis
4 years ago
This fundamentalists are punching us Christians as though we are undefensible punching bag. How can the fanatics in Orissa rape a Nun repeatedly and ask a priest to have sex with a nun. It is totally despicable. This cursed fanatics have brought a bad name to Hinduism.
anon
4 years ago
I worked with Mother Teresa's sisters a few years ago. Those women are amazing in what they do in love and care for those they attend to. They make many sacrifices for those they care for. I have never witnessed a group be more compassionate than mother teresa's sisters.

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