Burma’s Army attacked a Catholic village and Burned Down the Local Church and the Homes of the Villagers, in the Northeastern Part of the Country
Church of St Mary – Yangon, Myanmar
Newsroom (26/01/2023 4:45 PM, Gaudium Press) A long civil war in Burma has caused much suffering and violence especially for the Catholics in this East Asian country. As a result, Burma, and especially the Catholics in this country are constantly suffering from the growing violence.
Last January 15, a Catholic village in the diocese of Mandalay in the northeast of the country was burned down. The local church and houses were burned down by the Burmese army, which is ruling the country after a coup d’état in February 2021.
The Church of the Assumption, built in 1894, the convent of the Missionary Sisters of Mary, and 500 other homes were burned down. Miraculously, the Adoration chapel was not hit by the flames, Fides agency reported.
According to reports, the soldiers arrived in the village and forced the 3,000 inhabitants to flee. The town’s religious community insisted that there be no resistance from the residents to avoid a massacre.
Unfortunately, similar news is common in Burma, which displays a constant persecution against the Catholic communities. The Burmese army soldiers have a habit of raiding and camping for days in village churches.
Violent attacks, arson, and even air raids against Catholic areas and buildings have become common place in the country. It is not in vain that almost a year ago, in February 2022, Pope Francis asked for special prayers for peace in Burma.
Only 3% of the country’s population is Catholic, but that does not stop them from being especially persecuted by the army, which considers the Catholic Church a holdout against the military dictatorship. In the Open Doors Organization’s 2023 report, Burma ranks 14th of countries where persecution against Christians is widespread. (FM)
Compiled by Florence MacDonald