Nuncio urges Church to fight discrimination

February 4, 2015 at 10:07 am (SILENT VOICE)

 

He was speaking at the plenary assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India.

 

Bangalore: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio has exhorted the Church in India to promote harmony and fight discrimination.

“A true God experience will lead the clergy and the faithful to the engagement in and solidarity with the marginalized and exploited in the society” said Archbishop Pennacchio after inaugurating the 27th plenary assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India.

140 bishops from across the country are taking part in the Feb. 3 – 9 event on the theme ‘Liturgy and Life” in Bangaluru.

“Liturgy is the glorification of God and sanctification of his people. Moreover, it is also the font from which all power flows, and it is the summit towards which the entire activity of the Church is directed,” he said.

“Christian witness must always be given in a spirit of sincere and respectful dialogue, harmony and appreciation with all our brothers and sisters of different religions, in order to build bridges and ties of mutual fraternity and peaceful solidarity for a better society,” he added.

The nuncio also called upon them “to work hand in hand to establish a more effective communion and brotherhood among all the faithful in the Church and – more widely – among all members of civil society, without discriminations or partialities.”

“The Church in India has to reaffirm her solidarity with the Dalits in India. You have to be united in the commitment to eradicate all forms of discrimination within the Church and ensure equal prospects to our Dalits and other faithful,” he said.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, CCBI President, called for making the liturgy relevant, participative, inculturated and transformative than ritualistic and materialistic.

“This should lead to greater enthusiasm and greater dedication to carry on the mission of the Church,” said Cardinal Gracias.

Archbishop Filipe Ferrao Neri of Goa, CCBI Vice President said the challenge before us is to promote an active, conscious and meaningful participation of our people in the liturgical celebrations. “Active involvement in the liturgy will empower them to witness to the faith in all the spheres of their day-to-day life,” he added.

Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore in his welcome address said liturgy is the heart and soul, not only of the universal Church but also of the local church.

Archbishop Moras said that “burning issues facing the Church in India today are saffronization, Ghar Wapsi, increasing attacks on Christians and denial of civil and political rights.”

“Systematic efforts are being made to reconvert those who have already embraced Christianity,” he said.

Three Books titled ‘Catechetical Directory’, ‘Homiletics Directory’ and ‘Eucharistic Prayers for Children’s Mass’ were released at the inaugural session.

END

Bangalore ,CCBI ,Cardinal Gracias ,Liturgical Life ,Nuncio ,