Indian Christians protest inaction in nun's rape case

The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) organized a protest in the Indian capital, New Delhi, ‎on Wednesday, to protest against atrocities on nuns in the country and the laxity of police and authorities in bringing the perpetrators to justice.  The CBCI’s Council for Women has ‎organized the symbolic protest meeting in front of the Sacred Heart Cathedral, to condemn such cruel ‎acts against Nuns, demand safety and security for women in general and to appeal to the conscience of ‎leaders to act swiftly to contain this menace from spreading far and wide in the country. ‎

A 47 year old Salesian Missionary of Mary Immaculate (SMMI) nun was attacked and raped by two ‎assailants on June 19th at the order’s Krist Sahaya Kendra health center in Raipur, Chhattisgarh state.  ‎Earlier on March 15, an over 70-year old nun of the Religious of Jesus and Mary (RJM) was gang raped in Ranaghat, ‎West Bengal state.   ‎

Among those who participated in the protest in the Indian capital were Delhi Archbishop Anil Couto, Fr. Joseph ‎Chinnayyan, CBCI Deputy Secretary General, Advocate Sisters Mary Scaria and Sneha, CBCI and ‎Caritas staff and representatives of various Christian denominations.  Tessy Antony, secretary of the women’s commission in Delhi Archdiocese, told Ucanews at the rally ‎said the rapes and all recent attacks on the Christian community are a way of threatening those who ‎carry out missionary work.  But she said the women religious will not be intimidated. “We are born to ‎serve the poor and we will not stop it,” she said, adding that nuns are vulnerable targets.   ‎

Christians in Chhattisgarh, also staged protests on Tuesday against what they called the lax attitude of police, who have yet to name any suspects in the rape of the SMMI nun.  Demonstrators wore white clothes and black badges during the protests.  All private schools in Raipur were closed Tuesday "expressing solidarity with the cause,” said Father Sebastian Poomattam, vicar-general of Raipur diocese, hoping the demand for action would prompt police into arresting the culprits soon.  (Source: CBCI/UCAN)