Christians integral part of India: Bishop Theodore

Mangaluru: A seminar on ‘Christianity in India: Opportunity and Challenges’, was held at St. Agnes College in the main auditorium here on Saturday, January 27. The event was hosted by the Christian Planters’ Guild in association with the Catholic Association of South Kanara.

In his address to the gathering Secretary General of CBCI, New Delh and Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi Theodore Mascarenhas, spoke about the important role that Christians have played in the society. “We Christians are an integral part of the country. We are not interested in talks about majority or minorities. We only want to live as per the Constitution and ensure that we get the rights assured to us by the law of the land. These days we can see two kinds of nationalism- Mahatma Gandhi’s and Nathuram Godse’s. We follow the Mahatma’s nationalism,” he said.

Speaking more about the role that Christians have played over the decades, he said that more than 25,000 educational institutions are run by Christians making them the second largest providers of education after the government. “Nearly 60% of the leaders and public servants received education from Christian Institutions. Even a majority of former Prime Ministers and Presidents have been educated by Christian Institutions,” he said.

He also spoke of the contributions of Christians in the health sector. “Over one million people visit our hospitals, clinics and dispensaries.” he continued, adding that more than 500 NGOs in the country are run by Christians especially in the rural areas and in the North. He was saddened by the fact that some people still say that Christians have done nothing for the country. “Some say that our votes are not needed and allege that we perform forceful conversions. If we are converting people, how is it that our population remains at just 2% since decades?,” he questioned.

At the time of the separation of India and Pakistan, the majority of Indians, being a majority of Hindus, chose to remain a secular country, said the Bishop adding that in a country such as this, there was no place for hate speech, violent mobs and anti-social elements.

Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore Diocese and President of the occasion, said in his address to the gathering, “We should not feel insecure in this country and we should be actively involved in its administration. We should encourage and teach our children to be part of the service sector. This will enable us to achieve more and move ahead in the mainstream society.”

During the event, noted NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist Ronald Colaco and the Executive Editor of ‘Mirror Now’, Faye D’Souza were felicitated for their remarkable achievements and continuous contributions to the society.

After the felicitation, both Ronald Colaco and Faye D’Souza spoke a few words. Ronald Colaco spoke about how, to him, it was not about caste or religion when it came to service. He was taught from a very young age how to alleviate a person’s misery.

Faye D’Souza spoke about how she never betrayed her conscience and how it has led her to do the right things.

They both thanked the organisers for having honoured them on the occasion.

Philomena Peris, President of the Christian Planters Guild welcomed the gathering, R C Rodrigues, President of the Catholic Association of South Kanara, introduced the guests and Dr. Derik Lobo delivered the vote of thanks.