10,000 converts per year in northeastern India

Indian Catholics having procession.

Source: Catholic Culture News

India - Despite intense opposition from local political leaders, the Church in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh has been blessed with strong growth over the past three decades. In 1978, it was illegal for Christians to enter the state; now there are 10,000 adult converts every year, and Christians make up 40% of the population.

“There are 26 major tribes, which can be divided into … more than 120 sub-tribes, and each of these sub-tribes [has] their own dialects and specific culture,” explains Salesian Bishop George Palliparampil. “They want somebody who loves them - this is my experience … I think the greatest success, if I could call it that, was that the people felt that in the Church they find somebody who walks along with them.”

ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE ERUPTS AGAIN IN INDIA

Local Authorities Fail to Punish Perpetrators

Burned Church in Orissa (Photo Source: NJChristian)

BHUBANESHWAR, India, MARCH 9, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Christians in the Orissa state of India have been undergoing repeated violence since December, with a particular increase over the last month.

Fides reported more than ten episodes in which Christians, including pregnant women and children, were injured by attackers.

Evangelical Pastor Vijay Purusu reported that the Christians are being attacked and beaten in night raids.

Local sources told Fides that the perpetrators belong to the same militant fundamentalist Hindu movement, "Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh," that was responsible for a wave of attacks in 2007-2008, which resulted in the destruction of 6,600 Christian homes.