Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Guwahati (Agenzia Fides) - The urgent need to put “ethics in public life” in north east India was highlighted by Catholic Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of the diocese of Guwahati just elected new president of the Catholic Bishops’ Council of Northeast India Council. The prelate was speaking at a recent meeting of the Council. The Meeting reflected on the theme “Christian response to the pressing needs of Northeast India” which, it emerged, included wellbeing, education, health, peace and development.
Archbishop Menamparampil recalled that Catholics already offer a significant contribution to the area’s development with 15 colleges, over 350 high schools, a large number of secondary schools, several hospitals, dispensaries and women’s development centres and centres for the handicapped. Underlining the need to promote social harmony and peace he recalled that the local Church has launched initiatives for peace building and that Christian families, schools, religious communities, associations and colleges can all contribute to promoting peaceful social harmony. The Archbishop said that in the coming year the local Church would promote serious reflection on the theme “ethics in public life”. Uprightness in discharging public responsibility has become a greatly needed virtue in today’s society, he underlined.
Archbishop Menamparampil is known and appreciated for his tireless efforts to promote justice and peace in north east India. Several times he has mediated in tribal, territorial, economic or political disputes. In the past few months thanks to his efforts Karbi and Dimasa peoples in the region of Anglong, laid down their weapons, settled disputes and were reconciled.
Archbishop Menamparampil also co-ordinates Joint Ecumenical Peace Team which promotes peace in north east India and is proving to be an effective intermediate to solve local disputes. Now as president of the Catholic Council of Bishops he will speak and act on behalf of all the Catholics in the region, about two million, putting his moral influence and enthusiasm at the service of peace-building. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 4/9/2006 righe 26 parole 268)
