Unity in Church and State is the main task of the new CBCI President

Promoting unity in the Church and in the state is one of the priorities of the president of the Catholic Bishops´ Conference of India (CBCI), according to Syro-Malankara Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios of Trivandrum, who was elected to CBCI presidency in late April.

Unity was a major theme of the 10-day CBCI biennial meeting which ended here April 22.

Apart from discussing the communal conflicts that have broken out in many parts of India, the bishops also discussed the implementation of Pope John Paul II´s proposals for settling problems among Catholics who belong to the Latin, Syro-Malabar, and Syro-Malankara rites.

Archbishop Mar Gregorios has led the Syro-Malankara Catholics since 1953, succeeding Archbishop Mar Ivanios, who negotiated the reconciliation between Rome and the Syro-Malankara Church.

The reconciliation movement made great strides under Archbishop Mar Gregorios. The Syro-Malankara rite now has one archdiocese with two suffragan dioceses.

Also discussed at the CBCI meeting was the growing resentment of many lay persons toward the clergy´s domination of Church affairs.

“The Church does not work alone, but gets cooperation from all men of good will,” said Archbishop Mar Gregorios, who added that he will strive to foster good relations among religions and among people.

He said he would look to his native Kerala state as a model of religious tolerance for the rest of the country. There, he said, various religious traditions exist in harmony and understanding.

Archbishop Mar Gregorios also called on lay people to step forward to take responsible positions in the Church and society, without waiting for bishops and priests to show the way.

Last October´s Synod of Bishops on the role of the laity provides a Magna Carta for the laity, he declared, promising that the synod´s recommendations will be implemented as the final word comes from Rome.

Source: UCA News