Christians of Bangalore in masses offered prayers and expressed solidarity with the thousands of innocent, persecuted believers who are being subjected to inhumane violence and other atrocities by the Islamic fundamentalists in Iraq, Syria, Nigeria and other countries Sunday.
The Christians, led by Bangalore Archbishop Dr. Bernard Moras, took out massive silent protest march from St Patrick's Church on Brigade Road to St Joseph's Indian High School.
Mass prayers were offered by leaders of different Christian denominations like Catholics, Church of South India, Methodists, Baptists, Pentacost, Syrian Orthodox and the Assemblies of God, who addressed the large gathering of priests, nuns and other Christians.
Archbishop Moras, in his address, said it was a matter of deep concern and anguish to all people throughout the world, especially Christians, in view of the targeting of the religious minority by the fundamentalist and extremist Islamic group want only carrying out the genocide, according to dajiworld.com.
''We need to rise against such inhuman holocaust, brutal torture and murders. Our silence and non-responsive attitude would mean our consent and support to such violence and atrocities against humanity," the Archbishop said.
The brutal killings, torture, rape and other forms of atrocities must be put to an end and the entire civilized world must act to end the massacre. The extremist and terrorist groups have targeted innocent citizens of all religions -- not just Christians. The exploitation and atrocities against innocent human beings and the sexual abuses of women must end, he said, according to dajiworld.com.
The archbishop quoted the condemnation and anguish expressed by Pope Francis at the happenings in Iraq, Syria and other African countries and said: "The news reports coming from Iraq leave us in dismay and disbelief: thousands of people, including many Christians, driven from their homes in a brutal manner; children dying of thirst and hunger in their flight; women taken and carried off; people massacred; violence every kind; destruction of historical, cultural and religious patrimonies. All this gravely offends God and humanity. Hatred is not to be carried in the name of God! War is not to be waged in the name of God,"
Pope Francis had made an impassioned plea for the world to halt the "slaughter" of Christians and other religious minorities by Islamic extremists and called on the international community to find "an efficient political solution that can stop these crimes," as many consider them as tantamount to genocide" the Archbishop said quoting the remarks of the Pope, according to dajiworld.com.
Senior leader and former deputy chief minister R Ashok said it was a matter of deep sadness and anguish that countries like Iraq, Iran, Syria and neighboring Pakistan were breeding extremists and terrorists and were behind the genocide against innocent persons in the name of religion. The atrocities in Iraq, Iran, Syria and African countries against Christians and other religious minorities must be condemned by all, he said.
The extremists and terrorists in Pakistan had not spared even the Indian soldiers engaged in the rescue operations in Jammu and Kashmir during the recent flood havoc and therefore all Indians must raise their voices against such forces, Ashok said, according to dajiworld.com.
