Mangalore: Christian Conclave with the theme ‘ Empower the Laity’ held

Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 09 May 2011: Christian Reforms Foundation and Indian Christian Service Association  jointly organized  a ‘Christian Conclave’ on the issue of Empowering the Laity on Sunday, May 8, 2011 from 9 am to 3 pm  at ‘Sahodaya’, CSI Premises, Balmatta, Mangalore.

 

Following the welcome address by  P.B. D’Sa,  convener of  the ‘Christian Conclave’, the seminar was inaugurated in a unique way by a group of aggrieved persons by unfurling the main banner of the seminar. Soon after, two books were released - one in English, titled ‘Lost God and the Church’  was released by  Joseph Dias, General Secretary of Catholic-Christian Secular Forum (CSF), Mumbai and the other in Kannada, titled ‘Parivarthaneya Haadhiyalli-Volume 3 was released by Dr. Jessy Tellis Nayak.

 

Some victims of alleged harassment and injustice in their respective parishes narrated their  bitter experience for pointing out certain irregularities in their parish administration or for demanding democratic functioning of the parish associations such as the Parish Pastoral Councils.

 

In his key-note address, Justice M.F. Saldanha (Retd) said that the Christian community  has been providing quality education to the population of the sub-continent for the last one and a half centuries. The Constitution of India mandates that these institutions are entitled to special status, but the actual fact is that they are denied even the basic right of equal treatment before the law. He wondered as to why the leaders of the Christian community have failed to insist upon our rights. The Christian community has lost in this respect by default and even at the Supreme Court level, due to non-representation and non-projection or our case, decision after decision has been adverse for the Christian community. Justice Saldanha lamented about the fact that in spite of his relentless campaign with the clergy and the hierarchy of not only the Catholic Church but all the denominations  to take up strongly such matters  with the government and the courts by appointing top quality professionals ,  his pleas went unheeded.

 

One important point made by Justice Saldanha is that the laity consists of 98.7 percent of the congregation and the clergy less than 1.3 percent. While there is talk of some kind of participation by the laity in the form of committees etc., the actual fact is that 100 percent of the decision making power is vested in the clergy and the hierarchy.

 

Speaking about 2008, church attacks in Mangalore, Justice Saldanha said that 338 false criminal cases are still pending against several innocent Christians, most of whom are students, workers, small businessmen, etc, who have been falsely victimised and as such their lives and careers have been ruined because of these proceedings and pointed out that our institutions have done practically nothing to ensure that these prosecutions are withdrawn.

 

 

 

 

Prof. John B. Kutinha

 

P. B. DSa

 

Justice M. F. Saldanha

 

Joseph Dias

 

 

 

 

 
Dr. Joe A. Lewis                                                                         

 

 

 

 

 

 

Justice Saldanha also said that nothing can defend the manner in which church properties are sold. He opined that these properties should have been developed for the benefit of the community. Citing another example where the Christian community suffered the most, Justice Saldanha pointed out that outside Mangalore city, in the Special economic Zone (SEZ) cases 79 percent of the victims are poor Christians whose homes and farms and sources of livelihood have been destroyed. However, he said that  those who should have protected the interest of the fellow Christians have been indirectly supporting the SEZ.

 

Concluding his key-note address, Justice M.F. Saldanha said that he strongly advocated a democratic management, especially in the matters of property management and financial accountability and pointed out that the clergy is the trustee which pre-supposes the fact that transparent management  and accountability are basic necessities.

 

Dr. Joe A. Lewis  from Mumbai spoke on “Vatican II and Cannon Law-are they relevant today...? Remedies and Alternatives before us”. Prof. John B. Kutinha from Bangalore deloivered a lecture on “Experience of a Backward Christian Leader in Karnataka-Pros and Cons of Empowering”.

 

Joseph Dias, General Secretary of the Catholic-Christian Secular Forum (CSF) Mumbai, said that he could learn many things from the ‘Christian Conclave’ and highlighted the fact that with modern technology such as internet and cell-phones  like-minded groups throughout India can create a network and keep in touch with each other  and fight against injustice and harassment  no matter from which source they come.