Church for peace, derides pilgrim attack

the goan I networkrPANAJI rrIn a statement released on Tuesday, CBCI Secretary General and Goan Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas voiced “great distress and sadness to have received reports of the dastardly and cowardly attack on a bus carrying pilgrims to the Amarnath shrine, causing injuries and loss of precious lives.” r“This last attack is another sign of the flames of violence that seem to be unfortunately engulfing the country. The CBCI expresses its profound pain and sorrow at the spiraling violence in our country in recent times.” r“We have been equally shocked and saddened by the lynching of human beings by mobs calling themselves, ‘gaurakhshaks’. Violence in whatever name, be it the name of animals or God or religion, is appalling and unacceptable. We also condemn atrocities against dalits, tribals and other weaker sections. We condole the death of so many innocents and pray rfor God’s comfort to their families.” rThe CBCI, which has Archishop Filipe Neri Ferrão as its vice president and represents 168 dioceses consisting of the Latin rite (131), Syro-Malabar (29) and Syro-Malankara (8) across the country, also expressed deep concern “over the communal violence that is being fanned in parts of West Bengal and other areas in the country.” r“We appeal to all concerned to restore peace and communal harmony in our society. A nation cannot progress if it divides itself on the basis of caste, creed and religion.” r“Violence brings death and destroys lives and families. We cannot risk the future of our children, our youth and our country for narrow political gains or for one upmanship,” said Bishop Mascarenhas. r“Our country has been known for its peace and harmony and though there have been times when we have seen unimaginable violence, death and bloodshed, our society has bounced back to peace and brotherhood.” r“Lynchings, killings, terrorist attacks in recent times are frightening and worrying. We appeal to all our brothers and sister to rise above religion, caste, language or region and to unite for peace.”