CBCI held its biannual General Body Meeting on 2-9 February 2018 at St. John’s Medical College Campus and issued a statement.
The statement mentions nation-building. Nation-building is not the job of bishops.
There have been attacks on Christian institutions and communities before. Christians should be able to defend themselves.
The statement mentions “Human life of every individual person in our beloved motherland needs to be valued and defended.” Bishops are wrong on that. Those who commit murders and other high crimes should be executed. It is a tragedy that rapists and murderers of Jyoti Singh Pandey are still alive. They should have been hanged long back. So are many other criminals. Criminals laugh. Victims cry. Some victims commit suicide. The maximum penalty is death by hanging. We should change the law so that criminals like rapists and murderers of Jyoti Singh Pandey are drawn, disembowelled, entrails burnt, hanged, beheaded and quartered.
It is foolish to show mercy to evil persons. Showing mercy to criminals is unfair to victims.
Jesus Christ did not show mercy to merchants and money changers at the Temple. St. Peter did not show mercy to Ananias and Saphira.
Works of charity are different from works of mercy. Mother Teresa was a Missionary of Charity, not a Missionary of Mercy.
Strange is the call of CBCI to establish a truly secular, socialist and democratic nation as is enshrined in the Constitution of India. The Constitution did not have the words secular and socialist in its preamble when it was adopted on 26 November 1949. The words were added by 42nd amendment in 1976. Freedom of Religion will be under attack if the country becomes truly secular. Christians will face problems. Socialism has resulted in poor becoming poorer.
What is the use of dialogue across religious boundaries? Both sides will continue to hold the same positions they held before.
Ecumenism can serve limited purpose. Differences between Catholics and Protestants are deep. Differences between Catholics and Orthodox are many. Orthodox do not have dogma of Immaculate Conception. They do not believe in purgatory.
There is talk of empowerment of Dalits, Tribal, Other Backward Classes and relief and welfare of farmers, fisher folk, migrants and other deprived and exploited communities. Jesus Christ said “Seek you first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Ecology is separate from Christianity and spirituality.
No need to worry about plight of criminals in prison. Worry about the plight of victims.
CBCI wants to ensure transparency in all spheres of Church’s administration. Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly is accused of corruption in a land deal, by priests and lay people. There are complaints to pope and police.
The theme of the meeting was “United in Diversity for a Mission of Mercy and Witness: ‘I am with you always, to the end of the age’.” (Mt 28:20). The statement talks of evangelisation and quotes Evangelii Nuntiandi and Evangelii Gaudium but does not mention the relevant verse: “Go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Mt 28:19).
