Archdiocese holds dharna to highlight Christians’ issues

Bhopal, June 20, 2017: Archdiocese of Bhopal staged a demonstration peacefully on Tuesday in the Ambedkar park, Tulsi Nagar, with the demands and problems with the Christian community. In this dharna, the representatives of various churches have expressed their views and suggestions on topics related to Christian issues. The dharna began with a prayer in which grace was sought from almighty God.

In the beginning, Fr. Maria Stephen, the PRO of Archdiocese said that “we have not come here to do evil to any individual, Government or organization, but have come to meditate and be aware of the rights granted to individuals by the constitution.” “Religious freedom – Fundamental Right for everyone and everywhere and Build ‘bridges’ with love and not ‘walls’ with hatred” he said.

Indira Iyengar, Fr. Godwin, Fr. Florence, Pastor Vijay Nathaniel, Pastor CP Singh, Fr Jonedius and many other representatives talked about to build positive attitude towards the missionaries in the society.

Arch Bishop Leo Cornelio said, “In all missionary institutions, people of all castes, religions are employed, in which large number is of other religions. Missionary organisations work on secular thinking, and respect all religions. But some fundamentalists always try to defame these institutions and attempts to give communal colors to any event occurring in these institutions. Missionaries are working in the rural and urban, regardless of their facilities, and they are working as a voice of the voiceless. Just recently, on June 13, the same situation was witnessed in Satna Railway station when a Nun and four women were forced to made alight at the station on the complaint of a fundamentalist organization.

The representatives of the church said in their demands – Minorities do not get the benefit of various schemes, its paperwork is so long that the minority community cannot take full advantage. Therefore, it demands from the authorities that these schemes be simplified so that the minority can be able to get the benefit of the schemes and move forward. All Christians, have full faith in the laws of India and the Constitution, request the administration not to come in false misrepresentation of the fundamentalists, regardless of their religion, they should not be disturbed or threatened with terror.

Fr Shaji proposed his vote of thanks with gratitude to all the people in this dharna for their valuable thoughts and suggestions.It is worth mentioning that the Missionaries have been working in rural areas of the state for the last many years and it has also drawn the attention of some organisations.This has also created a sense of fear among christians

– daily pioneer.