“The phenomenon of abuse cannot but cause bitterness and pain. It calls the entire Church to a profound reflection in order to ensure that this scourge is eradicated. And should new cases arise, no one must neglect the primary duty to protect the victims.” The Vatican Secretary of State, Card. Pietro Parolin, said this in an interview with Mauro Ungaro, director of “Voce Isontina,” the weekly of the Archdiocese of Gorizia, relayed by SIR news agency. “The Holy Father has implemented a series of concrete measures aimed at making sure that there is no room in the Church for those abuses of power and conscience, which had allowed, in a context of ‘spiritual abyss,’ even sexual abuse,” the prelate added. Recalling the meeting of the presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences in Rome at the end of February, the cardinal said that “we need to accompany this Papal initiative with prayer and, at the same time, we should not give in to despair.” According to the Vatican Secretary of State, “we must fight evil with all available means, starting with a special focus on the formation of the clergy.” Commenting on the Pope’s serenity, “despite the dark clouds,” the cardinal argued that “it comes from the fact that he is fully confident that, thanks to everyone’s commitment, reflection and prayer, and above all with God’s help, there will be a just conclusion to this sad chapter.”
BECOME JESUS’S DISCIPLES, NOT DEVOTEES: JUSTICE JOSEPH
Religious persons in the Catholic Church should first become disciples of Jesus before trying to make others His followers, says former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph.
“Becoming a disciple of Jesus is a difficult task whereas becoming a devotee is easy. Our call as religious is to become disciples and make people disciples of Jesus,’ Justice Joseph told the general plenary assembly of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, India’s first indigenous religious congregation for men.
The January 4-8 assembly, now underway at Jerusalem Retreat Centre, Thrissur, is expected to evaluate the relevance and impact of the 187-year-old congregation’s ministries and revisit its vision and orientation for the next ten years.
EVIL AGAINST CHILDREN INTOLERABLE: BISHOP RODRIGUES
Faced with the evil done to children, “no one can remain silent,” says Bishop John Rodrigues, rector of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Bandra (Mumbai).
The prelate was addressing the Mass on December 28 for the feast day of the Holy Innocents, which commemorates the massacre of children ordered by Herod, king of Judea, with the aim of killing Jesus. In his homily, Bp Rodrigues said: “They proclaimed and bore witness to Christ even before they could speak. We pray for all children that they are safe and grow up with love and understanding.”
The bishop also spoke against “abortion, abuse, neglect, child labor, child trafficking, child soldiers.”
“Christ, the light of the world, came to save the world. And yet we see evil and darkness around. We are called to be children of the light,” he explained.
“THE CONSTITUTION WAS BEING SYSTEMATICALLY DESTROYED”: FR CEDRIC PRAKASH
Father Cedric Prakash of the Jesuit Gujarat Province has just returned from the Middle East after a three-year stint with the Jesuit Refugee Service there. On his religious vocation he says: “That is a long story: to cut it short – it was a CALL – and I said “YES” to it – and I have not regretted that decision for a single moment, ever since. I believe I am called to serve Jesus through His people. I try my best to do so: willingly and joyfully!”
Fr Cedric is an internationally acclaimed human rights and peace activist and recipient of several awards including the ‘Legion of Honour’ from the President of France and the ‘Kabir Puraskar’ from the government of India.
He was in the Middle East for three years from January 2016. He was invited by the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region to work among the refugees and displaced in the Region (Syria, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq and Lebanon). He was based in Beirut, Lebanon and entrusted with the responsibility of advocacy and communications for the Region. He spoke in an interview “The current scenario for human rights activism in India is very bad. We hear about threats, intimidation, arrests, foisting of false cases and even death for all those who take a stand for human rights, justice and peace.”
Lynching has become the new normal. The Government is wedded to crony capitalism: “we have seen it in demonetization and how they have mainstreamed corruption. The poor become poorer everyday.
“The fascist, fundamentalist forces must be put in place. We must hold political parties accountable for their misdeeds and ensure that they focus on Governance and on serving the people. Too much of ‘fekuism’: myths, lies, false promises have been foisted on the nation. We must ensure that we exercise our franchise and motivate all others to do so too. We need to educate people on our Constitutional values and fundamental rights. We need to engage with the media and also be active on it. Yes all of us can do plenty to stem the rot that is taking place in the country.”
“Christians and the Church in India must play a very active role in addressing the ills of the country. We cannot be fence-sitters. We have to be vocal and visible for a more just, free and equitable India. This I believe is what Jesus expects from us today.”
TAMIL NADU TO HOST LATIN-RITE BISHOPS’ PLENARY ASSEMBLY
India’s Latin-rite bisho-ps were gathering in the hold-ing their plenary assembly in the seaside town of Mahabalipuram in southern India’s Tamil Nadu State.
The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) of the Latin-rite bishops, was held its 31st plenary assembly at the Joe Animation Centre from January 8 to 14 on the theme, “Evangelii Gaudium,” or “The Joy of the Gospel,” the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis that deals with the Church’s primary mission of evangelizations in the modern world. Several speakers, including a nun and a lay man are scheduled to address the bishops on various aspects and ways to promote the “Joy of the Gospel” in the Church in India by upholding the ministry of love and compassion.
The CCBI plenary meeting will also look into the present situation of the Church in India.
Most Rev. Dr Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman was elected as the new President of the CCBI by the 31st Plenary Assembly of the National Episcopal Conference of India. Most Rev. Dr George Antonysamy Archbishop of Chennai-Mylapore and Most Rev. Dr Anil Joseph Thomas Couto, the Archbishop of Delhi were re-elected CCBI Vice president and Secretary General respectively. According to Fr Alathara, the CCBI, with 132 dioceses and 189 bishops, is the largest bishops’ conference in Asia and the fourth largest in the world.
SIBLING SURVIVORS OF ORISSA PROGROM CHOOSE CONSECRATED LIFE
Ten years ago, Hindu nationalists persecuted and destroyed their home during the pogroms in the district of Kandhamal, in Orissa. They both decided to serve the Church in consecrated life.
They are Fr Anand Pradhan and Sr Anjali Pradhan, brother and sister, who survived the violence against Christians unleashed by Hindu radicals in 2008. At that time they had to escape from their village of origin to save themselves. And it is precisely here, where Hindu families have always prevented them from rebuilding their house, that they have returned for a ceremony of reconciliation and thanksgiving. This time though, the whole village has been celebrating.
SYRO-MALABAR CHURCH TO SET UP INTERNAL COMMITTEES
Hit by controversies, including sexual abuse involving priests, the Kerala-based Syro-Malabar Catholic Church has decided to set up internal committees at the diocesan level to create a “safe environment” for all, including children and vulnerable adults.
The decision to implement the “Safe Environment Policy” was taken at the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Archiespicoal Church being held here.
This policy is being implemented to ensure safety and security for all, especially children and vulnerable adults, a Church official said.
Claiming that the safety and security for all have already been ensured in parishes, diocese, religious congregations and institutions of the Syro-Malabar Church, the official said that the implementation of new “Safe Environment Policy” would further strengthen it.
ANDHRA PRADESH TO HIKE AID FOR JERUSALEM PILGRIMAGE
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has announced that the State government would increase the financial aid to the Christians for the Jerusalem pilgrimage from Rs 40,000 to Rs 75,000. He also announced Rs 1.5 crore financial aid to the CSI St Pauls Basilica Church known as CSI Church located near the State Guest House. Stating that the church is very beautiful, he announced that the government would extend support for completion of works.
Chandrababu Naidu joyfully participated in the Christmas celebrations at the CSI Church. He recited some verses and took part in the cake cutting function.
He announced that the State government would increase the financial assistance from Rs 40,000 to Rs 75,000 to the Christians proceeding to Jerusalem pilgrimage. He said a large number of Christians go to Jerusalem to see the birth place of Jesus Christ.
He praised the services of Christian missionaries in the fields of education and health. He said many popular persons in Krishna and Guntur districts have studied in the educational institutions run by missionaries. He recalled that TDP founder N T Rama Rao studied in Andhra Christian College in Guntur.
DALIT CHRISTIAN BODY CONDEMNS RESERVATION FOR FORWARD CASTES
The National Dalit Christian Watch (NDCW) on January 9 expressed shock and anguish over the Indian government’s determination to extend reservation benefits to the economically weaker section of the dominant castes of the country.
“NDCW opposes this move which is against the spirit of the Constitution of India as the ‘Concept of Reservation’ was introduced under the principle of ‘Social Justice,’ to uplift the status of the communities who are socially and educationally backward due to cumulative oppression and discrimination for centuries in the name of Caste,” a press statement for the body said.
Earlier in the day, the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament, passed the proposed law to provide 10% quota in jobs and education for people from general category, who also belong to the economically weaker sections.
The Lok Sabha, the lower house, passed the bill a day earlier. The bill will now require the President’s nod to become a law. Most parties have called the government’s move a political stunt ahead of the national elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called the law a “victory for social justice,” pointed out that elections are held in the country every few months.
BRITISH REPORT SCOLDS INDIA GOVT OVER RELIGION-BASED VIOLENCE
A British parliamentary report has criticized the Indian government for failing to protect religious minorities from violent Hindu hardliners.
A report by the British AllParty Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief said the rise of nationalist “Hindutva” ideology — which defines ‘Indian’ as exclusively Hindu — has led to an increase in religious oppression in the country.
The Dec. 31 report titled ‘Commentary on the Current State of Freedom of Religion or Belief’ said anti-conversion laws in seven of India’s states are also used to threaten Muslims and Christians.
In its India chapter, the report said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has finally, condemned mob violence against minorities, but his government has remained largely inactive in proactively tackling spiraling religiously motivated violence.”
The report said a “particularly worrying” situation emerges from media reports that some members of the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have close affiliations with the Hindu hard-line group Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS).
Founded in 1925, the RSS draws on its vision from a mix of Hindu legends and ancient Indian history. It claims that India is a Hindu land and religious minorities should accept Hindu supremacy if they want to live in the country. Rights activists have agreed with the concerns expressed in the report.