from Rubiya Shaikh
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)

Panaji, Aug 28: The Goa and Daman Catholic community will observe Sunday September 7, as a day of prayers and fasting to express solidarity with brothers and sisters who are going through untold sufferings in Orissa, stated a press released issued by Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão of Goa and Daman.

The schools run by Archdiocesan Board of Education have already decided to remain closed on August 29 as a mark of solidarity with the suffering Christians of Orissa.

The Archbishop has said that a signature campaign will be organized to express condemnation besides holding protest rallies in a couple of places in the State.

"The happenings taking place these days in Orissa cannot but cause concern. VHP leader, Swami Lakshananda Saraswati and four of his companions were shot at and murdered in their Ashram and since then, Christian individuals and institutions are being targeted and destroyed," the Archbishop said in the circular issued here.

"The Catholic Bishops in India have expressed their sorrow and registered their protest over the killing of the Swami and the ensuing spate of violence and asked for prayers for peace, together with them, we too expressed our feelings over these events," he said.

The Archbishop has said that there is no guarantee that these events will end soon and there do not seem to be signs that this communally disturbed atmosphere will be cleared easily.

"Some organizations in Orissa are laying the blame on the Christian Community, thus fanning the anti-Christian communal flame across the State," he said.

Appealing all the community members to join in prayers and programmes, the Archbishop has said that no one can remain indifferent in such a situation. 

"We need to express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are going through untold sufferings. It is with this in mind that we have planned to take these initiatives in our Archdiocese," he added.