Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Hyderabad (Agenzia Fides) - To build harmony among young Indians of different religious and to promote peace and encourage dialogue and mutual respect, the Commission for Ecumenism and Dialogue of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in the south eastern state of Andra Pradesh have launched a Harmony Club initiative in Catholic schools and institutes.
The Commission will organise formation seminars to train Club animators open to teachers, students and social workers. The animators will form Clubs, make contact with Clubs in other schools and promote a culture of respect for others and social harmony.
The Catholic Bishops of Andra Pradesh hope that Harmony Clubs in schools will help prevent growing inter-community violence, fomented by a campaign of hatred and intolerance led by fundamentalists.
The Harmony Clubs initiative is based on the conviction that “violence in the name of religion can never be justified”, the Commission explained. The Clubs will accept members of all religious communities and the aim is to build a network of circles in which to spread a culture of dialogue and peace, to counter that of violence and hatred.
Harmony Clubs will take inspiration from the Decalogue for Peace which recalls the Spirit of Assisi and the Inter-religious Day of Prayer for Peace convoked in Assisi by John Paul II 27 October 1986 attended by leaders of world religions. Harmony Clubs will organise dialogue and cultural discussion and also mediation and prayer. (Agenzia Fides 27/10/2006 righe 26 parole 267)
