Fresh Attacks On Churches Erupt In Karnataka, This Time In Bangalore

PALAYAMKOTTAI, Tamil Nadu, SEPT. 22, 2008, 17.20 Hrs (SAR News):

It was another shocking Sunday for Christians, as vandals ransacked two Catholic churches in Bangalore early September 21 morning at Marianpalya and Mysore Road.

In a communiqué from the Holy Land, Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore told SAR News, "I strongly condemn the spate of violence against the peace-loving Christian community. The attacks on Sunday morning on St. James Church in Marianpalya and the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus in Raja Rajeswari Nagar are very unfortunate and disturbing. The miscreants have caused deep hurt to the Catholic community by desecrating the Sacred Species, destroying the Tabernacle and sacred vestments and vessels.

"Barging into places of worship and causing violence is an ungodly act that people of all religious communities would certainly condemn. I urge the Karnataka Chief Minister to take cognizance of such incidents and hearken to the call for peace. Inaction and inability to contain the violence will speak of the inefficiency of the government," he said.

St. James Church Parish Priest, Father Joseph Menezes, said: "They have come through the sacristy and have broken all the cupboards, statues and have vandalised the Blessed Sacrament and thrown the Eucharistic species all over. Only this morning when we came for Mass we saw what had happened."

"This morning the Sunday service was cancelled. Instead Mass was offered at the sub-station, a kilometre away from the main church," he added.

St. James Church was built recently in 2004. The old church is close by.

Parish Priest of the Church of the Holy Name of Jesus, Father Terence Matthew, told SAR News: "The statue of Infant Jesus was broken. The church is intact and we had Mass as usual."

Police could not confirm who is behind the attacks, but assured the Church authorities and the people a through investigation into the incidents and full protection to the Christians and their places of worship.

Incidentally, the state government, already under pressure from the Christian leaders and the Central government over the unabated attacks on the churches in different parts of Karnataka, had provided police protection in most of the churches on Sunday.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had earlier instructed the district and police officials to be extra vigilant on Sunday when Christians gather in large numbers for prayer services.

Bangalore city Commissioner of Police Shankar Bidari and DGP Sree Kumar rushed to the troubled spot with an additional force of police.