Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Bishops of India pray for outcome of general elections

Bishops of India pray for outcome of general elections

Last updated on: April 22, 2014 at 2:04 am by CNA Daily News

Bishops of India pray for outcome of general elections 2014-04-22T02:04:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

New Delhi, India, Apr 21, 2014 / 08:04 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Catholics in India are praying as they vote in the midst of five weeks of the nation's parliamentary elections, now going on in the world's largest democracy.

“We are very hopeful that the general elections underway will be conducted in a free and democratic way,” Bishop Henry D’Souza of Bellary told CNA earlier this month.

More than 814 million Indians are registered to vote in the polls, which take place in nine rounds from April 7 to May 12.

The Indian bishops issued a pastoral letter Feb. 11 anticipating the elections, saying that Catholics in the nations “must pray ardently for a good government.”

“The Catholic Church does not identify herself with any political party. But we have a responsibility as bishops to urge every eligible citizen to exercise his/her right and duty to vote and (to) do so prudently, carefully and judiciously.”

“We owe it to ourselves, our children and our country not to let go of this opportunity to get involved in bettering the history, culture and destiny of our nation.”

Noting the profound changes facing India, including a widening gap between rich and poor, the decreasing place of ethics as a “guiding principle for society,” and observing that “God is slowly being pushed to the periphery,” the bishops wrote that “it is in this context and at this moment in history that we are going into the elections.”

The bishops wrote that India needs leaders who will “uphold the secular character of our nation and promote communal harmony and a spirit of inter-religious dialogue and understanding; care for the minorities and weaker sections of society … safeguard the rights of tribals over land, water and forests; and grant equal rights to dalit Christians, equal to those given to other dalits; work for an economy that seeks in particular to help the poor and the under privileged” and ensure a “safe environment for all people, particularly women and children.”

They urged the faithful to "spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, and at home, so as to be able to discern what is best for the common good … with the Lord’s strength and guided by the Spirit we can all work unitedly for a better India."

April 6, the day before the elections' beginning, was dedicated as a day of prayer “for the peaceful conduct of the general elections and for the divine assistance for all the citizens of India,” said Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Syro-Malankarese Major Archbishop of Trivandrum.

Bishop D’Souza told CNA that “voters should vote for suitable candidates who can work selflessly, free of corruption, promoting peace, prosperity, and freedom of religion.”

“I feel … people will be able to elect suitable candidates to be the lawmakers of this great country,” he added.

“We should be able to work with all governments, provided they respect the secular character of the Indian Constitution and the freedom of religion every citizen.”

“I am sure people will rise to the occasion and elect suitable lawmakers for this great country.”

Considering the current elections, Bishop D’Souza said that “the whole condition is blurred; anything can happen and any government may be elected.”

The leading parties in the elections are the ruling Indian National Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, a Hindu nationalist movement.

Narendra Modi, the BJP candidate for prime minister, has been associated with economic prosperity but is also accused of failing to stop anti-Muslim rioting in Gujarat, where he is chief minister.

Key issues in the elections include corruption, economic issues, women’s safety, and national security.

Bishop D’Souza said voter turnout has thus far been very encouraging and citizens are voting enthusiastically, and that voters have also been “sensitized” to the evils of “corruption and communalism.”

The bishop expressed concern over the little representation of Catholic leaders to protect and voice concerns of minorities among the vast population.

Some 80 percent of Indians are Hindu, but there is a 13 percent minority of Muslims, and Christians, Sikhs, and Buddhists each account for one to three percent of the population.

Bishop D’Souza, who is the Indian bishops’ youth commission chair, also added that “India is young, and 50 percent of the population is young.”

“Our Catholic youth must take leadership and bring in change and transformation in the society,” he emphasized.

He reiterated that “as the chairman of the National Youth Commission, my priority is to make our Catholic youth the disciples of the Lord, deeply committed to Christ; they must take up leadership role in public life, in any political affiliations or party with which they desire to affiliate.”

He suggested that Catholic youth to join public administration, qualifying through public examinations and also being entrepreneurs in agriculture and industry.

Once voting in India concludes May 12, they will be counted May 16. Any party or coalition needs at least 272 members of parliament to form a government.

Asia - Pacific

Previous Post

April 22, 2014

San Diego bishop recovering after stroke

Next Post

April 22, 2014 Coptic priest appointed personal secretary to Pope Francis

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Paul John James Peter