"It is a chain. Violence is always a chain reaction. One does something and the other replies with violence, there is no end to this. As a Christian, I recall Jesus’ words to put an end to this chain." That is Mgr Felix Machado’s appeal, Bishop of Nashik (India), whose native city is Mumbai, the same city that yesterday was hit by terrorist attacks. Mgr Machado, who is attending the Italian Bishops’ Conference Meeting for Diocesan Delegates on dialogue and ecumenism in Rome, spoke about the "difficult witness Christians are bearing" in his country. "I heard the news on television yesterday," he tells the SIR, "but the causes of these attacks are still unknown. We do not have to be superficial by saying that it is all about religion. The situation is extremely complex. Sometimes these tragedies are given faces and names, but we have to go deeper in our analysis of the causes." Mgr Machado speaks about "inequalities, lack of justice, lack of understanding and, above all, lack of courage in dialogue." Then a concern: "We know that in India life standards have improved for many. Progress has brought about dignity." "The terrorists’ aim is always to bring a country to its knees", he adds. (continued)
