[Reader-list] Evangelisation Should Be Cornerstone Of Every Church Policy: CBCI President

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Evangelisation Should Be Cornerstone Of Every Church Policy: CBCI President

By SAR NEWS

JAMMU, Jammu & Kashmir (SAR NEWS)-- Evangelisation should be the
cornerstone of every Church policy in India, the president of the
Catholic Bishops' Conference of India president, Cardinal Telesphore
P. Toppo, has reiterated.

"The Christian community in India should work with absolute vigour and
vitality to make our small community big. This calls for discipline –
discipline within the community, which is the need of the hour," he
said.

Cardinal Toppo, who is also the Archbishop of Ranchi, Jharkhand, was
speaking to the members of the Northern Regional Catholic Council
(NRCC), after blessing a new church and school at Sahnewal in
Ludhiana, Punjab State, August 29.

The NRCC was incidentally holding its 24th meeting at the Trinity
Pastoral Centre in Jallandhar, August 28-29.

Underlining the need for forging unity within the Catholic community,
the cardinal said unity alone could help the community in maintaining
its identity. He called on the Catholics to share their religious
views with the people of other faiths, "for this could pave the way
for understanding and harmony among different faiths".
The CBCI president pointed out that while the Church was on a
development spree in the southern parts of India, "much needed to be
done in the northern areas."

Earlier, speaking on the theme of the NRCC meeting, 'Peace for
Development – A Church View', the resource person, Dr. John George of
Vidyajyoti, a Jesuit theology centre, New Delhi, said Jesus Christ had
taken the human form to establish the Kingdom of God on earth where
there would be no place for injustice, oppression, hatred, ill-will
and disharmony.

"Unless there was perfect peace and harmony in the world, development
– whether social, political, economic or spiritual – would not take
place," he said adding respect for human dignity alone could bring
justice, peace and development.
Archbishop Vincent M. Concessao of Delhi gave details of the
discussions he had with the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, when he
led a delegation of Christian leaders for a meeting with him, August
27. He said the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre
was committed to redress the grievances of the Christian community,
more particularly the extension of constitutional rights and
privileges to the Dalit Christians.

Auxiliary Bishop of Delhi, Anil Couto, Bishop Gerald John Mathias of
Shimla-Chandigarh, Bishop Symphorian Keeprath and Bishop Peter
Celestine Elampassery of Jammu-Srinagar attended the meeting.