KANDHAMAL, Orissa – In July 2008 a severe persecution of Christians broke out in the Indian state of Orissa. A 22 year old nun was burnt to death when angry mobs burnt down an orphanage in Khuntpali village in Barhgarh district, another nun was gang raped in Kandhamal, mobs attacked churches, torched vehicles, houses of Christians destroyed, and Fr. Thomas Chellen, director of the pastoral center that was destroyed with a bomb, had a narrow escape after a Hindu mob nearly set him on fire. The end result saw more than 500 Christians murdered, and thousands of others injured and homeless after their houses were reduced to ashes.

Recently a strange and dramatic event took place in Orissa, which has many people talking and wondering. In recent months, herds of wild elephants have begun to storm villages that are home to some of the worst persecutors of Christians during the troubles. In one village, where in August a year ago the Christians had to run for their lives while their homes were being destroyed by rioters, a herd of elephants emerged from the surrounding jungle exactly one year later, in July 2009, at the same time of the day of the attack.

These elephants first attacked a rock crusher machine owned by a key leader of the persecution movement. They then went on to destroy his house and farms. Hundreds of villagers have been forced to take shelter in camps in the Indian state of Orissa after repeated attacks by a herd of elephants. Seven people have been killed and several others injured in attacks by a herd of 12-13 elephants over the past few weeks in Kandhamal district.

Over 2,500 people living in 45 villages have been affected by the attacks, district chief Krishen Kumar said. It is, however, unclear why this herd of elephants migrated from the Lakheri sanctuary in a neighbouring district. He said the herd had travelled some 300km into Kandhamal, and even entered a town in the district. Wildlife officials were camping at the site of the attacks and trying to find out why the elephants had come out of their sanctuary. The villagers say elephants attack their areas in herds, causing heavy destruction.

Gaining momentum, they rampaged through other non-Christian homes, demolishing gardens and singling out the home of persecutors, leaving Christian homes untouched. These strange attacks have spread, and according to a report, the elephants have already destroyed more than 700 houses in 30 villages, and killed five people.

Nobody in this area has seen or even imagined the unique appearance of a herd of wild elephants such as this. The elephants are not ordinary elephants; they appear to be on a mission. Typically, smaller elephants enter a village first, appearing to survey the community. They then rejoin the larger herd, and larger elephant soon follow and get the job done.

The ministry partner in India stated “We think that it might have something to do with the avenging the blood of martyrs. In fact the fear of God has fallen on the local people, who have labeled these elephants “Christian elephants.”

With little help coming from the administration, the villagers have taken to road blockades. “The elephants have destroyed crops and selected houses. But officials too express helplessness. “There is no permanent habitat of elephants in Sundargarh. They come from Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand where their habitats have shrunk. But is not clear how and why these elephants reached Orissa.

What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? (116, 12) With joy and profound gratitude to God, I am happy to invite you for the defense of my doctoral thesis on the 19th of June(Friday) at John Paul II Institute in Lateran University at 16.00 p.m. Thank you for your love and friendship; prayers and encouragement. Looking forward to your presence,

Yours Lovingly,

Fr. Ajay Kumar Sabhasundar

Collegium Lateranese

Viale Alessandrino, 675

Rome-00172

C. M. Paul, SDB
ROME, Italy – The Gregorian Foundation and the “Jacques Maritain” International Institute organized a two-week Course for Diplomats of Asian Countries with the theme “The Catholic Church and the International Policy of the Holy See.” Thirty two diplomats from 16 Asian countries took part in the sessions held in Rome and Turin, 11-23 May.
The diplomats came from Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

India, China and Pakistan miss out
The ones who failed to respond to the invitation were the giants of the continent: India and China. Pakistan wasn’t present either. But the organizers – led by Jesuit Fr Franco Imoda, the previous rector of the Gregorian – maintain that they are satisfied nonetheless.
Indian diplomat’s absence for the course could be due to the change of guard. The new Indian Ambassador to the Holy See, Mrs. Chitra Narayanan presented her credentials to the Holy Father only on 29 May.
In Asia, where Eastern religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Shintoism, or Islam are dominant, Christianity (Catholicism) is by and large regarded as “foreign,” so Christians (Catholics) are in the minority, with some notable exceptions. In Japan, for instance, the proportion of Catholics consistently stays a bit below 0.5% of the population. Yet Japan could be the first Asian country to establish diplomatic relations with the Vatican in 1942. (Vatican started to send a Nuncio to Tokyo in 1919, 23 years prior to the establishment of diplomatic relations).

Indian Salesians Make Three Contributions
Two Indian professors from Salesian University Rome (UPS) Philosophy Faculty presented papers. While former Dean and senior professor Dr Scaria Thuruthiyil (INN) presented two papers entitled: The Engagement of the Catholic Church for Education (13 May in Rome) and The Catholic Church and Inter-religious Dialogue with Hinduism (19 May, Turin), Faculty Secretary and professor Dr. Joshtrom Kureethadam (INH) was among a panel of three speakers on “The Corporate Social responsibility and the Environmental Problems.”
This is the third course held for diplomats. First two courses were held for diplomats from Mediterranean and Middle East countries as well as African countries.

Vatican: A Moral and Intellectual World Power
The Japanese ambassador to the Holy See H.E. Mr Kagefumi Ueno credits Vatican to be a moral and intellectual world power equipped with the best network for the diffusion of messages and power of information. In Rome since 2006, he is an eminent Buddhist thinker of Shintoist education.
“We wish to introduce the various aspects of the Catholic Church, such as: the international legal status of the Vatican City; the ways in which the various organization of the episcopate throughout the world and at the level of the local Churches; the diplomatic activity of the Nunciatures; the humanitarian and diplomatic action of the Holy See in favour of peace; ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue; representation at the international organizations; and relations with the Asian world,” explains secretary General of J. Maritain International Institute Dr. Roberto Papini.