CSF General Secretary Calls For Department Action Against Senior Police Officials

Justice Michael Saldanha and Community Groups Slam Thane Rural Police For Registering False Complaints Against Joseph Dias

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, National President, Catholic Bishops Conference of India, receives a copy of The CSF 2012 Report on Christian Persecution in India from Joseph Dias, the CSF Gen. Sec.

(COLOMBO Sri Lanka) - The following memo was presented to Chief Minister and Home Minister:

Praise and thank God for his mercy. You will recollect that we had asked you to pray for an end to the persecution that the CSF, myself and my family, our partners, collaborators and beneficiaries have been going through. It will soon be two years that we have been standing against this with prayer and complaints, which have not been successful because of the powerful forces behind the attacks. Now, this persecution is becoming unbearable and could lead to paralyzing the CSF and our work in the Lord's Vineyard for His people. We are appealing to you to be the “doer” of the Word, and not merely a listener, by sending a protest email to the authorities.

It is not the money of a few thousand rupees that is important, but the fact that a Christian activist, his family, and the NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) who have been fighting for years and on a daily basis selflessly providing online community news are being targeted. If we take this lying down, you could be next, and we won't even be around to protest. In addition, our honour and integrity are at stake. How could one accuse us of taking even a rupee, when we have spent lakhs (100,000's) of rupees over the last thirty years in community service, not to mention dedicating time and energy at great personal cost.

The support from hundreds of the clergy and laity, -priests, sisters, NGOs etc- has been huge, with many offering Masses and Rosaries.

Given that we are observing Lent, this injustice is even more deeply endured, and we feel that given the manner of persecution, unless it is ended, we will be forced to live with it for the rest of our lives, though we are sure of our heavenly reward. It will also affect the Christian activist movement, as an effective voice of the community will be silenced. We therefor need you to sign and forward this request on to every believer in human and minority rights, as well as constitutional freedoms.

We are grateful to all of you, standing with us in solidarity, including Justice Michael Saldanha, and the community groups and NGOs who have taken a stand. Please find after the following appeal email, some reactions.

Do keep the prayers going, apart from sending this email to the authorities. More in our next email.

Blessings and Respect,

Your brothers and sisters in Christ, Joseph Dias and Team CSF

Edited by Fay V Greco Salem-News.com