Bishops of India lament corruption, outline priorities
February 18, 2014
The bishops of India-- the nation that has more seminarians (15,363) and religious sisters (98,381) than any other country in the world-– issued a statement at the conclusion of their February meeting in which they lamented societal corruption and outlined their priorities for the Church.
“When we look at our country, we see corruption plaguing every sphere of society,” the bishops said. “In such a scenario, Church institutions must be an example of transparency and probity. Another phenomenon is that of internal migration which, while opening opportunities to people, has torn the cultural and religious moorings that sustained them.”
The bishops also lamented Hindu fundamentalism, which “seeks to dilute the secular character of our nation,” and noted that globalization has “brought in its wake problems like prolonged working hours which have disrupted family life.”
Stating that “the Church in India has tried to live up to the vision of Vatican II,” the bishops outlined seven “areas for improvement”: “fostering [a] God experience,” “addressing justice issues,” “ensuring for our lay faithful their rightful place,” “stamping out discrimination against women,” “creating a Christian presence in political and public life,” “promoting dialogue,” and “safeguarding ecology.”
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