Black Sunday: Protest march and meeting held to show solidarity with Christians and Minorities in Iraq and Syria

The Federation of Karnataka Christian and Catholic Associations (FKCCA), the Indian Christian Union (ICU), the United Christian Forum (UCF), the Bangalore diocese of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church and several like minded churches including the CSI, Methodist and Pentecostal churches held a protest march and meeting yesterday at 2:00 P.M. to protest against the atrocities, violence and genocide against Christians and minorities in Iraq and Syria.


The protest march and meeting was attended by over 10,000 people from various walks of life. The march which started from St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at 2:00 P.M. ended at St. Joseph’s Indian School ground at 3 o clock. The meeting was presided over by the Catholic Arch bishop of the Bangalore diocese, Arch bishop Dr. Bernard Moras, and attended by the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church metropolitan of the Bangalore diocese, H.G. Pathros Mor Osthatheos, Sri Shanthaveera, Kolada Math Swamiji, Vicar General Msgr S. Jayanathan, CSI, Methodist and Baptist pastors, as well as Sikh representive Sri Doni, Muslim representative Mr. Agha Khan, former deputy chief minister and BJP leader Sri R. Ashok and Shanthinagar MLA and Congress leader Mr. N. A. Harris. Mr. Abraham T.J., President of FKCCA and ICU was present with a sea of priests, nuns, educators, lay leaders, church members, students and volunteers.




The speakers were unanimous in saying that no religion practises violence and what is now being seen is the misinterpretation of religion by certain elements in society. The Arch bishop Bernard Moras talked of the importance of expressing solidarity with those afflicted by human and natural calamities all over the world. This included floods in Kashmir over a week ago. He said that human beings and Christians have to come together to express a credible response to anything which is anti human and anti life. He explained the video of Pope Francis which was showed during the meeting and said how many more lives would it take for people to speak up. The Arch bishop ended by quoting Rev. Niemoller’s provocative poem saying
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.




Bishop H.G. Pathros Osthatheos sang a Syriac song, translated into Malayalam as well, which spoke of the prayer to God to shower grace and mercy upon his creation always and give good sense to the creation of God to act well. The bishop reiterated what other religious leaders spoke of and said that human beings are basically peace loving and the ecumenical get together to protest against the atrocities in Iraq and Syria showed that human beings care for each other. There are many regional and religious considerations which one has to take into consideration when thinking of the present crisis but above all we all have to come together for a strong response and call to peace. He informed the gathering that his church was in the direct line of conflict and that the Patriarch of the church was in talks with world leaders to bring an end to this horrendous conflict. The bishop hoped that everyone would follow the bidding of God and act according to the will of God instead of their own wills.


Sri Shantaveera Swamiji remembered the contribution of Christians in the field of education and service to the poor. He said that the Hindu way of life also calls for peace and Christians have offered so much to Hindus in India. Sri R. Ashok said that all religions are peaceful and anyone who said otherwise was not religious. Mr. N.A. Harris said that any Muslim who does not believe in Christ is not a Muslim and said that he is a public representative who tries to see everyone as human beings.


Sri Doni talked about the beatitudes and said that the message of Christ was so peaceful. He said that he was an Indian by birth, a Sikh by faith and a Christian by practise. Mr. Agha Khan stressed that he was a Muslim and a Josephite and was thankful for the contribution that his education made in his life. He urged the audience to not make the mistake of thinking that Islam is anti Christian. He talked about his own experiences in Iraq and said that the present crisis was a result of those who did not know what the Quran was all about. He then went on to promise that he was willing to give his life for the sake of others. Mr. Abraham T.J. reminded everyone that this was the time to be bold in responding against injustice in society instead of being spineless people. He repeated that silence is violence and it is time that Christians and minorities stood up and spoke instead of remaining silent saying that it is not their concern.


The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by Fr. Ronnie Prabhu who thanked the big gathering and wished that peace would replace violence in the world.







Pictures courtesy:
Benjamin Raphael

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Black Sunday: Public Protest Rally to be held tomorrow in Bangalore

The Federation of Karnataka Christian and Catholic Associations (FKCCA), the Indian Christian Union (ICU), the United Christian Forum (UCF), the Bangalore diocese of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church and several like minded churches including the CSI, Methodist, Pentecostal and Orthodox will be holding a protest march and meeting to protest against the atrocities, violence and genocide against Christians and minorities in Iraq, Syria and Palestine. The protest rally will start tomorrow, Sunday, September 14, 2014 at St. Patrick's Church on Museum Road, Bangalore at 2:00 P.M.and culminate at the St. Joseph's Indian School ground, near Mallya Hospital, and opposite the Sree Kanteerava stadium, Bangalore. (Google maps can be seen here)

The public meeting at St. Joseph's Indian school ground will start at 3:00 P.M. Archbishop Dr. Bernard Moras of the Catholic Church, H.G. Bishop Pathros Osthatheos, Bishop of the Bangalore diocese of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Mr. Abraham T.J., President of FKCCA and ICU and other bishops, priests and lay leaders will be present. Dharmaram seminary has produced a short video on the crisis in Iraq. It can be found here.

Following is a report of the meeting held on August 27, 2014 to plan the above meeting.

The Meeting coordinated on 27/08/2014 by Mr.Abraham T.J-President FKCCA & ICU, to discuss the genocide of Christians in Iraq, at the Palana Bhavan, in the vicinity of the Bangalore Archbishop’s House, which was benevolently provided by His Grace, Most.Rev.Dr.Bernard Moras, the Archbishop of Bangalore, had the following participants:- Fr.Jose Kumblolickal-Provincial, Missionaries of St.Francis de Sales (msfs), Sr.Alice P.T, fsi,-Superior, Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate (fsi), Rev.Dr.D.Manohar Chandra Prasad (CSI), Sr.Lincy Cherian, scsc-Provincial, Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross, Fr.Thomas Kallukalam, cmi,-Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, cmi, Parish Priest, St.Thomas Florane Church, Rev.N.J.Samson,-Chairman & President, Karnataka Baptist Federation, Pastor. Rev. Robinson Paul Gen-Sec Bangalore City Pentecost, Fr.Jerry Kurian-Representing Bishop, H.G.Pathrose Orthathies, Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Fr.Ronnie Prabhu-PRO of the Bangalore Arch dioceses, Sr.Rashmi, ccst,-Superior, St.Tresa’s Convent, Gadddelahalli, Fr.Peter D’Souza-Director Sumanahalli, Sr.Victoria William-Delegate Superior, Daughters of St.Mary of Providence (Guanellians) (dsmp), Sr.Mercy Abraham, rgs,-Superior, Good Shepherd Community, Fr.John Solomon-Parish Priest, Immaculate Conception Church, Fr.Thomaiar-Parish Priest, Holy Family Church R.M.Nagar, Fr.Alwyn Dias- Vicar Provincial, Capuchin Province of Karnataka, Rev.Alfred Sudarshan–CSI, Koramangala Church, Mr.Augustine Prashanth-CSI, Shaffer Memorial Church, Sr.Mable D’Silva-Superior, Sisters of St.Charles Borromeo (scb), Sr.Maxime, scs,-Superior, Satyaseva Catechist Sisters of the Families (scs), Sr.Rosa Ittira, rmi, -Superior, Relegious pf Mary Immaculate (rmi), Fr.Herald Christopher, msfs,-Principal, St.Francis De Sales P.U.College, Mr.D.William Pratap–CSI, Hudson Memorial Church, Sr.Adeena Mary, fih,-Superior, Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (fih), Sr.Francis Xavier Mary Vedamuthu,sjl-Superior, Sisters of St.Joseph of Lyon (sjl), Sr.M.Jyotsna, ac, -Headmistress, St.Antony’s Kannada Higher Primary School, Sr. Jessilia Mendonsa O.Ss.S-Superior, Order of the Our Most Holy Saviour (Bridgettiness), Sr.Vimala Savarimuttu,fsp,-Superior, Daughters of St Paul (fsp), Rev.D.N.Samuel-Faith Tabernacle Ministries and also several priests and nuns representing the Sisters of St.Charles Borromeo (scb), St.Tresa’s Generalite, Gaddalahalli, the Society of Jesuits, Carmel Ministries, Order of Friars of Minor Capuchins (ofm cap) Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (rndm), Sisters of St.Joseph of Cluny (sjc), Missionary Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottine Missionary Sisters) (sac), Relegious pf Mary Immaculate (rmi), Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (rndm), Prison Ministry, Sisters of St.Charles Borromeo (scb), Order of Disabled Carmelites (ocd), Sacred Heart Congregation for Women (kerala) (sh)
The deliberations got underway with the introduction of the subject by Abraham T.J, and the commencement prayer by Rev.Dr.D.Manohar Chandra Prasad of the CSI church, after which Fr.Jose Kumblolickal, Provincial Missionaries of St.Francis de Sales (msfs) spoke of the need to collectively take a stand immediately to demonstrate and let the world know that we the Christians in Bangalore are concerned about the happenings in Iraq against Christians, especially those Christians who have preferred to sacrifice their lives, instead of embracing Islam. Sr.Alice P.T, fsi, Superior of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate (fsi), expressed solidarity and offered all the help of her community that would be required in this direction and also expressing pain about the way in which those people’s lives have been cut short for upholding the faith. Rev.Dr.D.Manohar Chandra Prasad (CSI) spoke of the need for the Christians the people of the Covenants to go into what is happening to the Palestinians in Israel also and that these holocausts were infectious and could spread into India also. Condemnation of any kind of violence and genocide was the need of the hour and we need to come together to express our disapproval of the same. Sr.Lincy Cherian, scsc Provincial of Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross, Holy Cross Provincialate, felt that there is a need for us to also remember the sufferings our brothers and sisters in Syria, Ukraine and so on, hence along with a protest against what is happening in Iraq against Christians we need to also send out our opinion of non-acceptance of violence. Further stated that any kind of a voice from Bangalore will be heard by the world, hence there was a need to invite the attention of world leaders, Human Rights forum and even the UNO. She also felt that along with this we need to physically demonstrate our anguish against the happenings in Iraq. Fr.Thomas Kallukalam, cmi, representing Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, cmi, Parish Priest of St.Thomas Florane Church felt that we need to firstly observe a day of prayer and fasting and secondly bring all denominations together and have a march or a rally to demonstrate that we are opposed to the inhuman genocide in Iraq and also else where. He felt the need to enlighten Christian’s at our parish and church level itself about the happenings in Iraq. Rev. N.J. Samson, Chairman & President, Karnataka Baptist Federation felt that it was easy for Samson to bring 400 foxes together but it was difficult to bring all Christians together and yet so many denominations have come together to discuss the action plan on Iraq. He suggested that everyone together as a Christian body and observe a day of prayer and also an action plan to chalk out the form of protest against the persecution in Iraq. Pastor. Rev. Robinson Pal, representing the Pentecostal Church felt that our protest in Bangalore, which has thousands of Churches and several Lakhs of Christians, some or most of whom have non-Christian names should let the entire Country know that we are not happy with what is happening in Iraq. Fr.Alwyn Dias- Vicar Provincial, Capuchin Province of Karnataka strongly felt “when we see violence our silence is also an equally condemnable violence and injustice against humanity, when we do not raise our voice against it”, and urged everyone to raise their voice or be ready to accept the blame that we are also a part of the violence by our silence. Fr.Jerry Kurian representing the Bishop, H.G.Pathros Osthathios of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, spoke about the need to understand the Israel and U.S. interference before coming to Iraq, and seeing Iraq, Syria and Palestine together. He felt that as per unofficial estimates One lakh 70 thousand people have been killed in Syria and the Indian media or the American media has not reported this because it is of no interest to them. Five percent of the population in Iraq consisted of Christians and now it is dwindling and this started in 2003 itself. He strongly felt that the problem in Iraq was caused by a “misunderstanding of Islam” and a misunderstanding of Christians in the Middle East as well. Those who propagate the holocaust were unaware of true Islam. Fr.Ronnie Prabhu-PRO of the Bangalore Arch dioceses, representing the Arch Bishop of Bangalore felt that we need to exercise the power of meditation and communicate vehemently, others may not listen yet there would be an effect on all of them when we communicate through protests and felt that there must be a reflection of the sufferings, the pain, the anguish and the brokenness of Christians in Iraq in every church and in every community, Fr.Herald Christopher, msfs,-Principal, St.Francis De Sales P.U.College, suggested the using of electronic media extensively and also suggested that Christians of all denominations should not only in Bangalore or Karnataka but all over India if possible observe a Sunday as a “BLACK SUNDAY”, by wearing black dress or a black badge or a black band to publicly express our resentment of the massacre of Christians in Iraq.
The meeting concluded with all those gathered there resolving firstly, that Christians of all denominations observe Friday the 12th of September as a day of ‘Fasting and Prayer’ for the suffering Christians in Iraq, all over Karnataka and if possible spread it across India also. Secondly, observe a ‘BLACK SUNDAY’ and also hold a public rally on Sunday the 14th of September in Bangalore, with the participation of all the denominations and finally to draw the attention of the State and the Central government, demanding them to condemn the genocide of Christians in Iraq.



Picture courtesy www.catholic.org