India: After 'Savage' Beating, Priest Still Wants to Serve

Catholic Online ^ | 9/04/08 | Thomas Chellan

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Fr Thomas Chellan, 57, was one of the first victims of the anti-Christian pogrom launched by the Vishva Hindu Parishad after the assassination of Swami Laxamananda Saraswati on August 23, 2008.Only after being beaten, abused, wounded and stripped was he rescued by the police.A nun was subjected to the same violence, perhaps treated with even greater brutality. The Pastoral Centre in Kandhamal was one of the first Christian institutions to be destroyed, torched.

Father Thomas, who is now recovering in hospital, has agreed for the first time to talk about his ordeal. Forcing himself to speak, he is still hard pressed to describe the fury that hit him; in his words, “savage” is not enough to convey the sense of it all. “The manner in which they were beating us with axes, spades, crowbars; it was as if we were not humans. These attackers, I am sure, were paid by others to torture and beat us.”

Father Thomas now has only one concern: the thousands of people on the run (perhaps 50,000) hiding in the forest. “Right now there is not a single priest or nun in Kadhamal district; everyone has fled. Plundering goes and people are hunted down. In my agony I pray for the Christians in the forest. But even that is not a safe place. If my bishop sends me though, I am willing to return.”

“Along with my physical wounds, Christ is healing by emotional scars; I feel no bitterness or anger; I am even prepared to serve those who attacked us.I am glad to be part of the rich history of persecution of the Catholic Church in India.”

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He was among the first Christians targeted by the fury of the radical Hindus. This heroic priest was beaten, wounded and almost burnt alive. Now he speaks out.