Media Release

Bangalore, Feb 1: The 30th general body meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India is being held at St John’s National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bangalore from February 1 to 8.

Speaking at a press meet at St John’s Medical College, Oswald Cardinal Gracias said the theme of the conference is ‘The Church’s Role for a Better India.’ Scholarly papers on the theme will be presented by eminent persons such as Cardinal Peter Turkson, president, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Rome, Dr Josef Sayer, Director of Misereor, Germany, Mr Navin Chawla, former Chief Election Commissioner of India, Prof. T K Oommen, former Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University and Dr Ridi Herdia S J, former Director of ISI (Indian Social Institute), New Delhi.

Cardinal Gracias also said the Catholic Bishops will have an in-depth discussion on the topic which is of great importance to the Church in India. The Catholic Church had been making a very significant contribution to the development of India, a fact often acknowledged by socio-political leaders of the country. He said it was the Catholic Church that introduced the modern formal education system in India over 150 years ago by establishing schools and colleges in various parts of the country. It has also played a lead role in bringing modern medical system to India through its well net-worked health institutions, particularly in rural areas.

The Catholic Church, through its educational institutions, has played a major role in creating socio-political leadership in India for generations. And they had been largely instrumental in leading India on the path of modern democracy and social development. Cardinal Gracias who is also the president of CBCI said the policy of universal education followed by the Church had helped to usher in a culture of social inclusion and equity. The age-old Indian value of respect for all religions and cultural traditions has always been upheld in Catholic educational institutions without any discrimination on the basis of caste or creed.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias who is also the Archbishop of Mumbai said the bedrock of Catholic education is respect for all human beings as they are created in the image and likeness of God and to provide them with equal opportunity for growth and development. Social development is another key area of the Church’s involvement. Social work as it is known today in India was introduced by the Catholic institutions and organizations which have been even adopted now by the government for developmental activities.

Cardinal Gracias expressed his concern saying there was so much more to be done in the country despite such excellent initiatives and contributions made by the Church over the years. He made a particular mention of rampant scourge of corruption, ethnic and commercial violence, criminalization of politics, large scale internal displacement of citizens under the pretext of development, inadequate infrastructure for quality education and health services. Massive unemployment and growing divide between the rich and poor make Church leaders reflect more on the need to involve themselves even more for creating a more just and humane society.

Though the Christian community is only 2.32 per cent of the Indian population, it plays a great role in nation building. However, he added, this is not done in isolation, but always and everywhere in collaboration with people of different religious and cultural communities. To build a better India, the Christian community fully collaborates with the government. As Church organizations, they supplement the efforts of the government and other organizations in bringing about social equity and economic justice.

Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore who spoke in Kannada presented among other things details of the meeting, the structure and functioning of CBCI and who all will take part in the week-long meeting.

Archbishop Albert D’Souza, Secretary General, CBCI, speaking on the occasion said India is a great country of democracy. Christians have respect and reverence for the Constitution of India along with their religion. The meeting will evaluate and reassess the Church’s role in its activities. The Church expresses its solidarity with the poor and the suffering, the weaker sections of the society, as conscientious citizens of India abiding by law and being promoters of Indian Constitution.

In reply to queries from the media persons on attacks of minorities, Cardinal Gracias said the Church remains positive and attacks would not deter them in any way. The week-long meeting also would take up in-depth evaluation of 15 years of social work done and the impact of the social work on the people, the work for the youth and how effective it is in the society besides women’s issue and matters of education. The Church would follow the right approach by helping the people and finding avenues if any, which are not touched so far. The task at hand is to make progress of the country. Church is also involved in human rights and minority issues, involve and empower people in politics, not only Christians but others as well to serve the people better and productively.

Responding to another question, Fr Babu Joseph, spokesman of CBCI said the Catholic Church would not own up all the happenings in Kashmir. The Church respect and follow law of the country. The Christians there number less than 400 – all denominations put together, although the Church (St. Joseph’s School) is more than 100 years old and 99.9 per cent of the students belong to the majority community.

The CBCI president said the issue of foreign missionaries is a wrong notion and does not hold that importance. Catholic Church has the second highest number of educational institutions, after government. It is also the second biggest in social works after Red Cross.

Archbishop Moras said Church has pioneered in its social works where even government failed. The Church continues to serve the neglected, following the mandate of Jesus Christ to serve the poor and abandoned. Though Christians are still a small minority, they don’t get adequate representation in government and other services.

Archbishop of Mumbai said on the issue of conversion that it is a long process of tests and other formalities to admit a person into Catholic Church. It is against the tenets and teachings of the Church to take anybody at random into the Church. Regarding Dalit Christians, he said there is no political will and there exists an ambivalent attitude from the part of the political leaders. Among others present on the occasion were Fr Lawrence D’Souza, Directior, St. John’s Medical College and Fr Thomas Aquinas Sequera, Deputy Secretary General, CBCI.

The inauguration of the CBCI meeting will take place on February 1 at 11 am in the main auditorium followed by concelebrated Mass at 9 am, it was officially informed.