Thousands in Garo Hills Pray to End Increasing Violence Against Christians

theshillongtimes

Thousands of Christians from several churches in Meghalaya united in prayer during a protest to spiritually fight against the increasing violence against minorities and anti-Christian movements in North India carried out by the right wing groups.

Led by Catholic priests from the five districts of Garo Hills, a day of protest was held on Jan. 7. The priests asked the participants to continue praying for Christians in the country and against the atrocities on them.

During the sermon at the Sacred Heart Church Shrine in Tura, the priests also reminded the recent assaults on seminarians for holding Christmas Carol activities in Madhya Pradesh.

"Such cases of attacks on Christians are worrying. We need to be cautious and concerned," said Fr Theodore Sangma, one of the priests at the protest.

"We must all stand together and pray for peace and harmony in our country," he added, according to Shillong Times.

International Christian Concern (ICC), Washington-based persecution lobby group, has noted at least 23 religiously motivated attacks on believers in India during the Christmas season last year; and as a result of such attacks, several Christians were injured, hospitalized, or jailed.