Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ahmedabad (Fides Service) – Mother Teresa is an antidote for religious fundamentalism, the Catholic Bishops of the four dioceses in Gujarat State of India tell Fides Service. On the occasion of the Beatification of the famous nun, on 19 October in Rome, locally the Bishops have organised special events and interreligious prayers with Hindus and Muslims. In recent years Gujarat has been the scene of tension and clashes between Hindus and Muslims. The violence, which erupted in 2002, left deep scars on society and religious communities live separate lives with little or no contact.
Speaking to Fides Service Archbishop Thomas Macwan of Ahmedabad said: “Today fundamentalism grows for political reasons and is used to obtain votes. For centuries in India Hindus, Muslims and Christians lived peacefully side by side. But in the last ten years the situation has changed. In Gujarat certain political groups instigate Hindus and Muslims to fight to obtain political advantages”. The Bishop say that fundamentalism is creeping into public institutions as it can be seen by the fact that the anti-conversion movement is active in Gujarat and several other states of the Indian Federation and that in recent years Hindu extremists have launched attacks also on Christians and Christian institutions.
Mother Teresa, the Bishops say, is a person of great symbolic power who can be a channel of reconciliation between religious communities lacerated by conflict. On the day of the Beatification October 19, Bishop Macwan will preside a public Mass which will be attended by civil and religious authorities and representatives, including the mayor of Ahmedabad Anishabegam Mirza, members of the Ekta Samiti Council for Interreligious Unity and leaders of other Christian denominations.
In Gandhinager diocese at Gandhinager City Hall there will be an interreligious prayer meeting promoted by the Catholic Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandez. In view of the Beatification the Archbishop has asked parish priests and religious institutes to plan events of interreligious dialogue, social-cultural formation, social assistance programmes to make Mother Teresa her life and spirituality known among adults and children of all religions.
Bishop Godfrey Rozario of Broda diocese will say a special Mass in Vadora and Surat city on the October 19 and he has invited local representatives of other religions to attend. For his part, Bishop Gregory Kartemprel, of Rajkot told Fides Service that to commemorate Mother Teresa her work and her message of service to the poor, peace, reconciliation and profound respect for human dignity St Mary’s School has organised a spectacle/event open to members of all religions.
In Gujarat state 90% of the population is Hindu. Christians are 0.42% and Catholics are 150,000. PA (Fides Service 23/9/2003 EM lines 36 Words: 402)
