India’s Church urges faithful to
pray and vote “judiciously” in general election
 |
| Cardinal Oswald Gracias of India |
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the president of India’s Catholic
bishops, has issued a Pastoral Letter on behalf of India’s Catholic bishops, in
view of the imminent general election.
By Robin Gomes
India’s Catholic Bishops are urging their faithful to
exercise their sacred duty and right to vote in the upcoming general election
“judiciously” for the good of the country by choosing leaders who listen to the
people and respond effectively to their anxieties and needs.
“As Pastors of our people, we Bishops consider it is our
duty to address you …. so that joining hands with all people of good will, our
community can effectively contribute to shaping the future of our nation,”
writes Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Bombay, in
a Pastoral
Letter issued on behalf of India’s Catholic bishops on March
14.
Stressing that “all of us are truly proud of our country”,
Card. Gracias, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India
(CBCI) urges “every community to pray and to discern in prayer what is best”
for the nation.
With about 900 million Indian voters above 18 years of age,
the April 11 to May 19 general election is being bitterly
fought, with the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition led by the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeking another term.
The BJP came to power in the last general election in 2014
with Narendra Modi as Prime Minister. The Indian National Congress, that
has ruled the country for most of its history, was thoroughly voted out of
power largely because of alleged corruption. The party is seeking a
comeback.
In an interview, Card. Gracias explains to Vatican News that
in the Pastoral Letter, India’s Catholic bishops are reminding Catholics of
their duty to vote for the good of the country and for future
generations. The bishops are also urging the faithful to pray in order to
be able to vote “judiciously”.
Attention to vulnerable groups
The CBCI Pastoral Letter expresses concern about some of the
problems the nation is facing as it goes to the polls. The widening gap
between the rich and the poor is a worrisome issue and that
attention needs to be given to the poor.
Card. Gracias says the nation needs an inclusive
economy that provides the poor with opportunities to improve
themselves, such as through employment, encouraging entrepreneurship and
providing them education .
Another concern, the 74-year old cardinal expresses is a
safe environment for the people, especially women and children.
With violence against women on the rise, he says, there isneed to create a
mentality which ensures the dignity of women.
Another two vulnerable groups that need special attention,
he continues, are the tribals or the indigenous people and
the Dalits, those outside India’s rigid caste system who are
regarded so low in social status that they were once considered
untouchables.
Given the fact that India is a multi-religious and
multi-cultural society, the CBCI president says that the government must
promote national integration involving the participation
of all in nation-building. The nation must be made to feel
one family composed of different creeds, cultural backgrounds and ethnic
groups.
With climate change a big issue today, India's Church also
urges that the government be sensitive to the issue of environment.
What type of leaders?
In the Pastoral Letter, the bishops also suggest that
leaders of the country must listen to the people and respond to their
needs. The should be concerned about the poor, the marginalized and
those at the peripheries of society.
The bishops acknowledge governments have made efforts in
this regard but perhaps efforts need to be redoubled to ensure that all make
progress. Everyone should be included in India’s progress.
At the very outset of the Pastoral Letter, Card. Gracias
clarified that the “Catholic Church does not identify herself with or side with
any political party” but, “as before every election we feel called to give some
general guidance to our people for the good of our country.”
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