Two women killed in attack on Catholic church in Nepal

Rome, Italy, May 26, 2009 / 08:44 am

On Saturday, May 23, two women died after a bomb exploded during Mass at the Church of the Asuncion in Dhobighat in Nepal. There was no word on the number of wounded. According to Caritas, some 150 people were in the church at the time of the attack, which was believed to be an act of Hindu extremists.

After the event, the Director of Caritas Nepal, Father Silas Bogatim, who was celebrating the Mass, said, “We never imagined that someone would carry out such a cowardly attack as this which has killed and wounded so many people. In Nepal, we have lived in religious harmony, and an extremist group is trying to do away with this.”

The attack which was condemned by the government, different political parties, human rights activist and various religious groups, was believed to have been carried out by the Hindu extremist group “National Defense Army,” as pamphlets from the group were found on the scene. In July of last year, terrorists from the group claimed responsibility for killing a priest in the region.

Father Bogatim also said, “We are publicly praying to show our solidarity and religious tolerance.” “The attack has created psycho-social fear among Christians in order to disturb religious harmony in Nepal, but they (the extremists) will never succeed.