NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      AHMEDABAD, India (CWNews.com) - Hindu extremist attacks on Christians in India continued on Wednesday, December 30th as four nuns and two priests were injured when a mob burned down a Catholic church in western Gujarat state.

      District officials said a mob attacked the church on late Wednesday, the tenth such attack on Christians since Christmas Day by groups which Christians believe are connected to Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) or World Hindu Council, although no group has claimed responsibility. "Six people were inside lying injured. We took them to the hospital," said senior district official Bharat Joshi.

      In New Delhi, a spokesman for the US embassy said the ambassador had met Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani to discuss the matter. A British government official had also spoken to the Indian government about the matter, a spokesman said, although neither spokesman said any concerted efforts had yet been made by Western envoys. The Asian Age newspaper quoted a Vatican embassy official as saying that Pope John Paul was "very concerned" about the violence, but was taking a wait-and-see stance.