A SCHEME to save a chapel to St Antony in India, which was severely damaged by religious extremists, has received a boost from an international Catholic charity.
The chapel of St Anthony, on the island of Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu state, was attacked on several occasions between June and August 2008 as anti-Christian violence in Orissa state left more than 80 dead. Aid to the Church in Need, the charity for persecuted and other suffering Christians, has promised to provide £18,000 towards the cost of a new shrine.
Fr Michael Raj, the parish priest said,“The previous chapel was vigorously attacked and heavily damaged twice by unidentified anti-social and religious elements.” “However our faith is stronger and we are sure that the God in whom we believe, amidst all these struggles, will save our faith and our place of worship – which is the shrine of St Anthony.”