Posted on 03/18/2008 7:16:09 PM PDT by markomalley
| Mumbai, Mar 18, 2008 / 05:14 am (CNA).- A Hindu radical group on Saturday attacked two Catholic nuns and three teenage girls in a western Indian village as they prepared to hold a women’s educational program, UCA News reports. Sister Merciana Tuscano, one of the Carmelite nuns attacked, told UCA News that radical Hindu men and women attacked the nuns and girls in the village of Sanghoti in the state of Maharashtra. The mob shouted at the nuns, accusing them of “converting tribal people to Christianity.” According to Sister Tuscano, the mob “told us to leave the village at once and never to come back or else they would break our legs.”
The Catholic group was in Sanghoti, a village about 75 miles south of Mumbai, to conduct programs for tribal women. The group’s activities include running adult literacy classes, encouraging self-help groups, and popularizing the government’s AIDS program. She said that though she cried for help, the group dragged her out of the venue. The three teenage girls tried to rescue her, but Sister Tuscano said they were “hammered” by the mob. The second nun, Sister Philomena D’Mello, then arrived with other women for the program. Sister Tuscano told UCA News that Sister D’Mello was also attacked. "The mob rushed at her, caught hold of her, punched her all over. When she fell down in pain, a man stamped (on) her stomach twice," she said.
The mob also attacked the nun’s driver, a Catholic, who tried to intervene. The injured group was rushed to a government hospital in Albag, but were discharged on Sunday. Sister Floripe D'Silva, vice-provincial of the nuns’ Carmelite congregation, said she would take the sisters to a private hospital for further evaluation. She said all six victims were traumatized by the incident. Sister D’Silva said the mob also destroyed a grinding machine donated by a non-governmental organization to help tribal women generate income. She said a Hindu social worker who had come on behalf of the government to talk about AIDS was shocked by the attack. According to a local police official, 13 Hindu men and women had been arrested for the attack, but were granted bail. The official said the attackers, who were followers of a local guru, accused the nuns of “converting the local tribal people to Christianity.” Sister D’Silva denied the accusation. “It is a humbug charge. We have not converted a single tribal,” she said. She said that the tribal people themselves have told police that the nuns do not preach religion but only train them to lead a decent life. |
Catholic pings for your lists...
I hope not. Isn’t this a little out of character for them?
There are some hardline Hindus who are fighting back against the hardline recruiters in their country. Most of them are very peacefull but some have gotten rough due in part to the violence aimed at them by Muslims. Some of the distrust has fallen to people of other faiths as well. In the past Hindus have done their best to respect all faiths and alot of the missionaries have taken advantage of the kindness.
Wow, another “Religion of Peace.”
Not really.
Depending on which state, there is considerable opposition on the social and political level against the spread of Christianity. The difference between Hindus and the ROP is that Hindus don’t believe that all non Hindus, everywhere, must be destroyed.
Are the Hindus learning the wrong lessons from the Islamofasciasts?
I understand that there’s opposition to conversion to other religions. It’s the violent behavior that’s more of a surprise to me. That’s what seemed out of character for a Hindu.
Hinduism is not really a religion. It’s more of a civilization incorporating thousands of religions, all of which coexist quite nicely.
Some Hindu groups are extremely violent, while others are totally pacifist. Gandhi was murdered by a member of one of the first type.
Fanatics of any religion are dangerous.
They’re neighbors of the ROP. Overall, it’s a bad neighborhood.
HOLY COW!!
Fundamentalism is on the rise, worldwide, all faiths.
Its the usual response of cultures that think themselves under threat.
Violent behavior might be out of character for a Hindu, but Original Sin tells us that it is not out of character for HUMANS. I don’t think that it is their response to Muslims being violent towards them, either.
It is the human condition. Satan hates the cross.
It’s not totally out of character ... but I believe it’s a minority viewpoint, unlike TROP.
As a Hindu, I am ashamed by what these monsters did in the name of my religion! Attacking women and children only shows their cowardice. I sincerely hope the court gives them due punishment under law!
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