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
Catholic bishops voice hope for India’s new government

Catholic bishops voice hope for India’s new government

Last updated on: May 20, 2014 at 6:02 am by CNA Daily News

Catholic bishops voice hope for India’s new government 2014-05-20T06:02:00+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, May 20, 2014 / 12:02 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Catholic bishops in India have said they have nothing to fear from the country's new government following the landside success of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies.

“It is true that sometimes small groups of fanatics can give us concern, but the Church will continue in its mission to pray for the new government and contribute to the common good of the nation, supporting democracy, respect for pluralism, the rights of all and a secular concept in the political agenda,” Archbishop Albert D'Souza of Agra, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, told Fides news agency.

He said the elections were “a great test of democracy” and their result “highlights a strong government that will lead India into a new phase of economic development and progress, observing and ensuring democratic and constitutional values.”

Bishop Anthony Chirayath of Sagar, in central Madhya Pradesh state, was also confident. “I believe that the Catholic Church will have nothing to fear from the new government.”

In the national elections concluding May 12, the National Democratic Alliance, led by the BJP, won over 330 seats of the 543 in India's lower house of Parliament, a decisive victory over the ruling Indian National Congress party. Over 500 million ballots were cast, with voter turnout estimated at 66 percent, Reuters reports.

Key issues in the elections included corruption, economic issues, women's safety, and national security.

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

In the late 2000s, BJP members and party leaders in northeastern Orissa state also faced accusations of enabling the persecution of Christians.

Bishop Chirayath said that India has a heritage of ancient cultures, traditions and religions that “no government can damage.”

“Christians are part of all this and are proud. It is true that small extremist groups sometimes use violence against Christians: but are deviations which do not alter the reality of a nation that is democratic and tolerant and has a long tradition of harmony between different, ethnic, cultural and religious component.”

He said that the Church in his BJP-governed state has good relations with local political leaders and many Hindu children attend Catholic schools.

“There is no animosity, but only friendship.”

Bishop Stanley Roman of Quilon in Kerala state, where the Christian presence dates back to the apostle Thomas, said that minorities like Muslims and Christians are an “integral part” of India.

“Minorities are protected by the Constitution, I believe that the new government cannot and will not want to go against the Constitution. As Christians we are confident,” Bishop Roman told Fides.

The Global Council of Indian Christians stressed the importance of limiting “the violent action of Hindu extremist groups.”

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, congratulated the BJP on its “convincing victory.”

“We hope and wish that the new government will continue to uphold the eternal values, secularism and principles of democracy to lead the nation on the path of development,” he said on behalf of the bishops’ conference May 18.

The bishops noted the new government’s responsibility to ensure the security of minority groups and to show “special consideration” towards the country’s weaker sections, the Times of India reports.

“The Catholic Church in India will continue to extend its creative support to the activities of the government in the process of nation building,” the cardinal said.

The bishops encouraged the Indian National Congress party to learn from experience and to act as “a creative force in the opposition.”

Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul, the party’s campaign leader, both offered their resignations after the defeat, though party leaders rejected the offer unanimously, the BBC reports.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay, also congratulated the BJP on its victory. He prayed that God will bless the government with “wisdom, courage and selflessness” and that it will work for all people of India, especially the poor, the marginalized and minorities.

“The Church will always continue to work for the welfare of our people,” the cardinal said.

Asia - Pacific

Previous Post

May 19, 2014

Condolences offered for death of 32 children in Colombian bus fire

Next Post

May 20, 2014 Rabbi relates roots of Pope’s Holy Land visit in their friendship

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

How many "types" of Psalms are often recognized (e.g., praise, lament, wisdom)?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Five or more Fifty Ten only One