INDIA: Archbishop of Canterbury calls for end to violence in Orissa

By Matthew Davies, September 02, 2008 [Episcopal News Service] The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, has expressed "profound distress" at the extreme violence in India's eastern state of Orissa following the murder of Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati, senior leader of a Hindu nationalist group who was shot and killed in his home on August 23.

In a September 2 letter sent to the Most Rev. Joel Mal, moderator of the Church of North India, Williams called for an end to the violence in Orissa and for intense prayer for the suffering churches.

"I hope that Christians and people of faith around the world will make known their horror at this violence, their support for the rebuilding of lives and the churches, orphanages and schools destroyed, and for work towards future reconciliation," Williams said.

The Press Trust of India reported September 1 that the death toll had risen to 16 and about 200 people had been arrested in connection with the violent incidents.

Churches in India closed about 30,000 of their educational institutions on August 29 to protest against the continuing attacks by mobs of Hindus, which Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called a "national shame."

The Rev. Charles Robertson, canon to Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, said in an August 26 statement that "the news of churches being destroyed, orphanages set on fire, and Christians forced to flee for their lives are cause for great concern. We urge all Episcopalians to keep the Church of North India…in our prayers."

-- Matthew Davies is editor of Episcopal Life Online and Episcopal Life Media correspondent for the Anglican Communion.

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