The martyrs of Kandhamal (Odisha) recognised as Servants of God

The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints has formally authorised the opening of the cause of beatification for Christians killed by Hindu nationalists in 2008. The canonical process will involve Kanteshwar Digal, a lay catechist and a family man, and 34 companions. For Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, knowing that “our own brothers and sisters” have not been forgotten as witnesses of faith “is something great”.

Bhubaneswar (AsiaNews) – The martyrs of Kandhamal, the Christians killed in Odisha (Orissa) by Hindu extremists in the summer of 2008, have been officially recognised as Servants of God, the first step towards their beatification.

The Apostolic Nuncio to India, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, brought a letter to the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, which includes Kandhamal, that officially announces that the Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints issued the "nihil obstat" for the process of beatification of Kanteshwar Digal and 34 companions who died as martyrs in Kandhamal.

This act formally opens the inquiry into their possible holiness; from now on, the people in question take the title of Servant of God.

The archdiocese can thus start the canonical process by collecting witness statements which the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints will have to vet. If the final outcome is positive, the pope will be able to authorise the promulgation of the decree on martyrdom, which will lead to beatification.

Authorisation by the Vatican is a very important act for the Church of India, which remembers the events in Odisha 15 years ago as the worst outbreak of anti-Christian persecution in recent years.

The violence was extreme. In addition to killings, churches were set of fire, while people’s properties were devastated, forcing hundreds to seek refuge in the forest to escape fanatics instigated by Hindu nationalists.

The cause of beatification is linked to the name of Kanteshwar Digal, a family man and a catechist in the parish of Sankarakhole, killed at the age of 53 on 25 September 2008.

“Personally, this is great news as I am personally involved in this,” said Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar. “For my people, this is going to be a big boost: that they are recognised in the Church, that they are in communion. This is the golden jubilee of the diocese. My theme is Compassion, Continuation and Commitment.”

“When we see that our own brothers and sisters are recognised by the whole Church in the world, it is something great. To know that Kandhamal is not forgotten, that God is listening to them, that even through martyrdom God is with them.”

Today, there is no open persecution is in Odisha, but the wounds of the past remain open.

Among Christians, “some compensation has been received,” while “some say that they have not received any,” the prelate explained. “The day before Archbishop Cheenath died[*], we won the Public Interest Litigation (PIL).” But some “churches have not received any money.”

Still, right now people feel joy because "the Church of Kandhamal has been recognised in its witness of faith." They include Card Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, who was elated to hear about the decision by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.

Currently in Rome for the Synod, he was the one who, in 2017, encouraged the local Church in Odisha to promote the cause of beatification, with the support of the then Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, Card Fernando Filoni.

[*] Raphael Cheenath (1934-2016) was the archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar between 1985 and 2016.

• india
• odisha
• kandhamal
• martyrs
• pogrom 2008
• servants of god
• beatification