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October 9, 2012

Indian Government Seizes Land Used By Catholic Ministry To Lepers

Sumanahalli Society unable to renew lease on 45 acres currently housing 400 residents.

Melissa Steffan

The state government of Karnataka, near Banaglore, India, will not allow a Catholic organization to remain on 45 acres of land where it has worked for 30 years.

The Sumanahalli Society will be left with only five acres for its ministry, which currently utilizes 50 buildings and works with 400 people who are otherwise outcasts from Indian society: lepers, HIV patients, disabled, orphans and street kids, and juvenile delinquents.

Archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras has opposed the government's decision, calling it “an infringement of the rights of the Christian minority community.” Demonstrators protested the decision, but the state government did not change its original intent to seize the land.

Sumanahalli Society director George Kannanthanam said he did not think the decision was religiously motivated by Hindu nationalists.

"The Sumanahalli Society has never been openly Catholic," Kannanthanam said. "[We] keep the place non-denominational. We have served the sick and marginalised of society without distinction of race or creed."

CT has previously reported on the defeat of Hindu extremists in Orissa, India, as well as on religious tension within India's caste system.

posted by Melissa Steffan | Comments (2)

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The state of Karnataka ruled by the BJP government is the leading state in the nation for many anti-Christian attacks. The first BJP government in the history of Karnataka under the leadership of
Mr. Yeddyurappa, opened easy access to the anti-Christian elements of the society to attack the Churches and in 2008, one day, 14 Churches were attacked. God in His due time will take care of this dire situation in the State of Karnataka.

Posted By: A. S. Mathew | October 10, 2012 1:24 PM

It is really INCONSIDERATE of the Government to snatch the Land used for Social Service belonging to Catholics !

Posted By: MarriageDomain | October 18, 2012 12:37 PM

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