Published Date: February 5, 2010

Tags: attacks, fanatics, Hindu, Karnataka, Mysore

A file photo of a statue attacked in Karnataka

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A priest in Karnataka, whose church was robbed this week, has warned against labeling every attack “sectarian.” Some are simply the work of vandals and thieves, he says.

Father M. Anthappa says his St. Mathias Church in Mandya district’s Malavali was robbed on Feb. 3 of chalices, a monstrance and the pyx from the tabernacle containing the consecrated host. The losses amounted to about 126,000 rupees (US$2,520).

“What has happened here? Things are missing - things they thought are made of gold. How can we call it a Hindu fanatic attack on the church?” he asked.

Police are investigating.

The priest said attacks on churches committed by fanatics usually involved vandalism.

“They [fanatics] usually destroy statues, burn articles, and desecrate the church,” he said. “Nothing like that happened here.”

In the robbery of his church, the tabernacle was opened “probably to take the valuables inside it.”

The tabernacle sat on a stand, which was broken “probably in their attempt to open the tabernacle,” the priest said.

“It gives the impression that they demolished the stand,” the priest said.

“To me, 80 percent it is a robbery. It is wrong to name groups for this.”

He said the Hindu groups blamed for several church attacks in Karnataka “have no branches in this area. And we have been living peacefully here.”

The state reportedly witnessed five other attacks on churches, allegedly carried out by Hindu fanatic groups.

Christians in the state say they have faced similar attacks since the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (Indian people’s party) came to power in 2008.

Source: Priest warns of blaming all church attacks on fanatics (UCAN)

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