Author:
Publication: Catholic
World News Service
Date: September 14,
2000
The Catholic Bishops
Conference of India (CBCI) has described as "unwarranted" the proposed
hearing on religious freedom in India scheduled for Monday by a US congressional
committee on international religious freedom.
"The CBCI does not believe
that the present situation warrants an international hearing," said Father
Donald d'Souza, CBCI deputy secretary general, when asked about the Church's
reaction to the proposed hearing on religious freedom in India.
The anti-Christian violence
at the hands of Hindu extremists has not crossed the "gross human rights
violations situation that calls for interference in internal affairs of
the nation," pointed out Father d'Souza. Although John Dayal-- a
Catholic activist coordinating the work of several Christian organizations
highlighting the anti-Christina violence-- is attending the hearing in
the US, Father d'Souza said that Dayal is attending the hearing in his
"individual capacity and not as a representative of the Church."
A liberal Hindu leader,
Swami Agnivesh of Delhi, had also been invited to the hearing but turned
down the invitation saying he would not recognize the US right to act as
"a world policeman."
"The attempt on the part
of US to police freedom in other countries... amounts to violation
of the sovereignty of other nations. While it is understandable that
the US would want to undertake exercise of this kind, citizens of other
nations cannot aid and abet this process without compromising their national
pride and patriotism," said a press statement issued by the Hindu leader
who takes a pro-Christian stand on Hindu fundamentalism.
Gladys Staines has also
turned down the invitation to testify, according to the Hindustan Times
English daily. She is the widow of Australian Baptist missionary
Graham Stuart Staines who was burned alive along with his two sons in remote
Manoharpur village in eastern Orissa state allegedly by Hindu fanatics
in January 1999.
