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Attack On Bangalore Seminary Makes Religious Rethink Their Activities

Updated: November 22, 2006 05:00 PM GMT
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An attack on a seminary chapel near a southern Indian city led a group of Catholic Religious in the area to discuss whether their presence provokes local people.

On the night of Nov. 18, unidentified people smashed windowpanes of the chapel of Carmelaram Theology College and destroyed the statue of the Blessed Mother in the grotto of Nazareth convent across the road.

Carmelaram (Carmel garden) village, where the college is located, is 30 kilometers southwest of Bangalore. The five-square-kilometer area is home to formation houses of 32 Catholic Religious congregations. Bangalore, capital of Karnataka state, is 2,060 kilometers south of New Delhi.

Carmelite Father Thomas Pulickal, superior of the college, told UCA News the vandals also damaged an illuminated box displaying the college´s name as well as road signs indicating the way to some other Catholic institutions.

They escaped in a car and on motorcycles when seminarians rushed out. The seminarians collected some papers from the spot, which bore the address of a bar and restaurant, the priest said.

Still, the police had not made any arrests even after three days, Father Pulickal said. He added that the village, where people of other religions also live, has not experienced such vandalism before.

Heads of religious houses in the village met Nov. 21 and discussed the probable cause of the unprecedented vandalism. They decided to strengthen neighborhood relations and communications with local people as preventive measures against possible recurrences.

Several leaders say anti-Christian attacks are increasing in Karnataka after a coalition government headed by pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian People´s Party) came to power in February.

"Instead of blaming anyone, the meeting focused on elements that might have threatened or insulted the local people," Father Pulickal reported. He suggested that certain "lapses or carelessness" from the Religious "must have provoked" Hindu groups.

He noted that majority of the Religious living in the area are from neighboring Kerala state and speak their native Malayalam language. They also conduct public programs in their language in the Religious-dominated village. "Perhaps, it (the attack) could be a linguistic issue," he speculated.

Claretian Father James Kannanthanam, who heads a spirituality center in the village, told UCA News he wonders if a recently held public procession in connection with the Feast of Little Flower provoked the local people. "The entire program associated with it was held in Malayalam," he said.

Father Pulickal added that a retreat in connection with the feast referred to some Hindu customs and traditions as "meaningless."

The 30 superiors of the religious houses in the area agreed that institutions must show more sensitivity to the local ethos and concerns, the college superior.

Local police inspector Bopaiah told UCA News Nov. 22 that the incident was "just mischief" by some drunken youths. "It is not serious and has no sectarian elements. Or, they (youths) may be jealous of your (Christianity´s) growth and big show."

Nazareth Sister Shine Mappilaparambil told UCA News that local police have been apathetic in their response but have started night patrols in the area.

END

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