Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangalore (Agenzia Fides) - “The Right to Know is inherent to the freedom of expression” Archbishop Bernard Moras told participants at the 14th National Journalists Conference of the Indian Catholic Press Association in Bangalore, May 12th. He added “The RTI [Right to Information] Act has proved to be a progressive instrument of democracy, empowering citizens to obtain official documents with ease and have access to government record without having to pay bribe...” According to the Archbishop, the Catholic mass media must encourage true democratic participation in social responsibility: “Media must use and sustain human community in different sections, such as economic, political, cultural, educational and religious. The information provided by the media is at the service of common good.”
The Conference was opened by Lok Ayukta Justice Santosh N Hegde in the presence of RTI activists Shailesh Gandhi and Aruna Roy. Those also present were CBCI (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India) Secretary for Social Communication, Fr. Henry Dsouza, international delegates including Joseph Chitlapilly (Secretary General of the International Catholic Union of the Press,Geneva), Mr. Jan Jalek(Special Correspondent, Epoch Times, Canada) and Ms. Else (President-elect of the International Catholic Press) and media personnel from Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, South Africa.
In his welcome address, Fr. Adolf Washington, President of the Indian Catholic Press Association, told participants: “In an age where communication is almost matching the speed of light, the means of communication is not so important as the content of our communication.” Fr. Washington further mentioned that it is also the Conference’s task to evaluate and see whether the media works towards the betterment of others or not: “When we communicate knowledge, we empower, when we empower people, we liberate them, when people are liberated there is progress and development of the individual and the nation as a whole.” The talk presented by Aruna Roy focused on the fact that the Right to Information is “like a Bible for all of us” and the need “to use the RTI to put truth before the people of India.” Various talks were given over the course of the Conference. (PR) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2008; righe 29, parole 345)
