Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) – A landmark “memorandum of understanding” for the ecumenical development of the Church in the country and for the promotion of harmony among all religions n India was signed recently by the leading bodies of the three main Christian denominations in the country: the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, the National Council of Churches and the Evangelical Fellowship of India, representing various Protestant denominations.
The memorandum, which sanctions an ecumenical alliance among all Indian Christians, was signed by Archbishop Vincent Concessao (Catholic Church delegate); Bishop K. Sahu, representing the National Council of Churches and Bishop John Gollapalli representing the Evangelical Fellowship.
The accord - under the framework of National United Christian Forum (NUCF) - sought to share common goals and establish a cooperative arrangement to strengthen the Church and its engagement with the poor and the oppressed. The preamble of the memorandum, with the title 'Together we journey towards Christ' said: “We are committed to celebrate, enter into dialogue and act together to the glory of the One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
The memorandum aims, among other things to foster and promote the spirit of intra-faith harmony, to dispel the prejudices created against the Christian community and to actively engage in the promotion of better relationships between religious communities; to bring various Christian organisations of service together for a more coordinated action and will actively promote the prophetic engagement of the Church in the socio- political economic life of the nation; safeguarding and promoting human rights and in particular the rights of people belonging to Schedule Castes, Schedule Tribes and Backward Classes, minority communities, children, women, the poor and the marginalized. It will also address issues concerning Christians of Dalit origin, in particular the discrimination against their constitutional right to legal protection. The document notes that this new unity will be for all India's Christians, of different denominations but harshly persecuted in the same manner, a source of encouragement to all the faithful and communities all over the nations, often sorely tried as they strive to live a life of authentic Christian witness. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 19/06/2009 righe 26 parole 261)
