QUESTION: The Catholic Church is very open to interreligious dialogue. How are we faring in India in our relationship with non-Christians? There seems to exist some animosity among Christians against Muslims. Do you agree with that assessment?

ANSWER: We are so open-minded that our free space goes beyond the boundaries of our community and its perceptions. We serve so many people irrespective of caste, creed, and colour. The institutions we are running, especially in remote areas, are the best examples of interreligious friendship. Our inter religious dialogues and meetings continue as before, but, sadly, they remain limited to the periphery. To some extent, they have helped them and us to know each other, but they have the appearance of a PR exercise and do not go deep enough. If we join hands in some develop-mental and charitable activities, it will strengthen inter religious dialogue. We have an excellent relationship with Muslims in Karnataka. But there are some hardliners among the Christian community who block the human fraternity of people. We, Christians, had a rich tradition of interreligious fraternity from the time of the Second Vatican Council and we now have Pope Francis as its best proponent. But, sadly, some among us are averse to it.

Bp Henry D’Souza
Bellary