“Be not afraid: the words spoken by the angel to the shepherds on Christmas Eve are a message to Christians who have suffered violence and persecution and are painfully trying to rebuild their burned homes, and, most importantly, new relationships with their neighbors. Violence in the name of faith is a denial of the soul of India.
The speech made by F. Thomas Chellan on receiving the “Defensor Fidei” award. The Indian priest was among the first victims of the Hindu fundamentalist violence in Orissa. Dedicated to the Christians of Kandhamal, killed because of their “resolute” faith in Christ.
He was among the first Christians targeted by the fury of radical Hindus. For the first time since he was attacked he speaks out. After being seized, beaten, wounded and stripped he was almost burnt alive. It took police two days to free him. AsiaNews correspondent in Mumbai Nirmala Carvalho was able to talk to him.
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