Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cochin (Fides Service) - To intensify efforts to fight AIDS, give more attention to family pastoral, continue to offer free schooling for poor children were three priority commitments pinpointed by the Syro Malabar Catholic Church in India which held a Synod in the month of November. The Syro-Malabar community is one of three Catholic communities in India, the other two being Syro-Malankar Catholics and Latin Catholics. The Syro-Malabar community, rich in vocations and missionary activity, has its main centre in the southern Kerala region.
During the Synod, presided by Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil Archbishop Major of Ernakulam-Angamaly, the Syro-Malabar community stressed the importance of family pastoral to help prevent many of the evils afflicting society: spreading HIV/AIDS, criminality, abuse of drugs and alcohol.
The Synod participants agreed that more intense Christian formation of families and young people could help families stay together and avoid separation and divorce. With this in mind they approved a proposal to form a special Commission for Mission to Families. According to reports presented at the Synod, separations are often caused infidelity or abuse of alcohol on the part of one of the spouses. The latter is an evil which the community must seek to stop.
The Bishops also discussed the Church’s contribution in the field of education particularly at church run schools for Dalit children and non Christian children. Many church run institutes offer fee education to poor children, a practice fully approved and encouraged by the Synod.
The Syro-Malabar Church (Major Archbishopric) is rich in vocations both to the priesthood and the religious life, it has an active laity and a marked spirit of mission. Descended from Thomas Christians of India who became Catholic in the wake of Portuguese colonialism, Syro-Malabar Catholics are 3.9 million including many overseas. It has more than 6,000 priests and 30,000 women religious. Moreover, since thousands of priests and religious of Syro-Malabar origin are now in Latin dioceses or Congregations, this means that about 70% of all the Catholic church personnel in India comprising 17 million Catholics among a population of 1 billion, are fruits of this ancient Eastern Catholic Church.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 23/11/2004 Righe: 34 Parole: 341)
