India’s bishops push government to help find Fr Tom

Last updated on: March 30, 2016 at 5:50 pm by CNA Daily News

India’s bishops push government to help find Fr Tom 2016-03-30T17:50:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

New Delhi, India, Mar 30, 2016 / 11:50 am (CNA/EWTN News).- After the circulation of rumors claiming Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil was tortured and crucified on Good Friday, the Indian bishops have written to the government urging greater effort in locating the priest.

“A lot of rumors are being spread in the social media that Fr. Tom was subjected to cruel torture and then crucified on Good Friday,” the Indian bishops wrote in a March 28 letter addressed to India’s Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj.

The wide circulation of the “gruesome news” both at home and abroad is upsetting, and “brings agony to the relatives” and arouses concern in everyone, they said.

“It will be in the best interest of our country to step up the efforts to verify the veracity of this disturbing rumor.”

Bishop Paul Hinder, the Vicar Apostolic of Southern Arabia (whose territory serves Catholics in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen) told CNA on Monday that he has “strong indications that Fr. Tom is still alive in the hands of the kidnappers,” but could not give further information, in order to protect the life of the priest.

While voicing their appreciation for previous efforts the government of India has made in securing the release of abducted citizens from the hands of terrorists, most recently Fr. Alexis Prem Kumar, India's bishops said more ought to be done in the case of Fr. Tom.

On March 4, four gunmen attacked a Missionaries of Charity-run retirement home in Aden, Yemen, killing 16 people, including four Missionary of Charity sisters. Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil, an Indian national, was kidnapped by the gunmen during the attacks, which are thought to have been perpetrated by Islamist terrorists, though no group has claimed responsibility for the incident.

Since then several blogs and media outlets have reported that Fr. Tom was crucified by Islamic State militants on Good Friday. However, there has been no confirmation of the event by friends, family, or Fr. Uzhunnalil’s community.

In their letter, the Indian bishops said they immediately requested the help of the government in tracing and rescuing Fr. Tom after hearing the “sad and shocking news” of his abduction.

Messages were sent to India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh, and the Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, “soliciting their urgent intervention to ensure the safety of Fr. Tom.”

The bishops said they have been in constant contact with the Indian government on the matter, and voiced their gratitude for the efforts they have already made in monitoring the process of both finding and rescuing Fr. Uzhunnalil.

However, in spite of the efforts, the bishops stressed that so far there is “no definite answer” regarding the whereabouts of the abducted priest or the motive of his kidnappers.

The bishops noted that the Vatican has upped its own efforts to find Fr. Tom through their diplomatic channels, and requested that Swaraj “leave no stone unturned to ensure the safety and the quick release of Fr. Tom from the hands of the abductors.”

In a March 29 press statement the bishops noted that officials of India’s Ministry of External Affairs have assured them they are “closely looking into all the aspects” of the case and of a safe release for Fr. Tom.

A senior official of the Ministry of External Affairs assured the bishops that Swaraj would receive them personally at her earliest convenience to share “the available and pertinent details” on Fr. Tom’s release.

Asia - Pacific

Previous Post

March 30, 2016

Georgia bishops: religious freedom bill veto a chance for more debate

Next Post

March 30, 2016 Jeremy Irons says he opposes abortion, easy divorce

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which king's name appears as an author in Proverbs, apart from Solomon?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Hezekiah Lemuel Saul David