India – One month after the kidnap of Fr Tom Uzhunnalil the Indian government gives reassurance

04 April 2016
India – One month after the kidnap of Fr Tom Uzhunnalil the Indian government gives reassurance

(ANS - Bangalore) – On Saturday 2 April, the Indian Foreign Minister, Hon. Sushma Swaraj, received a delegation of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), to update the Bishops on the situation of Fr Tom Uzhunnalil, the Indian Salesian of the Province of Bangalore who was kidnapped on 4 March last during the attack carried out at the House of the Missionaries of Charity in Aden, Yemen. Meanwhile, today, 4 April, exactly one month after the massacre and the abduction, on the initiative of the Salesians and the Archdiocese of Bangalore, a prayer vigil and a Mass for Father Tom are being held at the cathedral. Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore, who will preside over the function, has called on all the faithful to participate.

“The CBCI Delegation expressed the deep concern and distress of the Catholic Church in India over the fate of Fr. Tom, whose whereabouts are yet not known, even after 29 days of that sad incident” said the statement issued by the Indian bishops.

“The Delegation firmly requested the Hon’ble Minister to throw some light on the mystery involving the abduction and the truth regarding the present state of Fr Tom especially now, when wild rumours are being spread at home and abroad about the fate of Fr Tom.

Ms. Sushma Swaraj has categorically assured the delegation that Fr Tom Uzhunnalil is safe and that the Government is adopting all possible means for the quick and safe release of Fr Tom. The Honorable Minister further said that the details of the negotiations and the technicalities involved with the negotiations cannot be divulged now, as it would endanger the process of release itself” continues the statement, signed by Msgr. Joseph Chinnayyan, Vice-Secretary General of the CBCI.

Ms. Sushma Swaraj also shared with the delegation the strenuous effort taken by the External Affairs Ministry, and personally by her to procure a safe passage for Sr. Rema, the only surviving nun, from the terrorist attack in Yemen. The Honorable Minister also said that the wild rumors being spread about any harm done to Fr. Tom, are totally baseless.

The members of the Delegation expressed the sincere gratitude of the whole Church in India for the various steps taken by the Government of India and, in particular, the Hon’ble Minister for External Affairs, to trace and rescue Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil from the abductors.

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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