Final Statement of the CBCI General Body Meeting Held at Guwahati
(March 04, 2010) While India as a country is marching forward rapidly, it is simultaneously experiencing discord, disharmony and violence on several fronts, the Church in India has always stood for the unity and integrity of the country as a Sovereign Democratic Republic, said the final Statement of the 29th Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) General Body Meeting Held at Guwahati, from the 24th of February to the 3rd of March with the theme: Youth for Peace and Harmony. It said that education should propel the young generation to go beyond differences and appreciate the diversity of cultures, languages, regions, and religions to create a culture of peace and harmony where everyone will be respected as human beings, free to profess, practise and share one’s faith. The Bishop, as pastor and father of the Christian community, will be particularly concerned for the evangelization and spiritual accompaniment of young people. The statement noted that Globalization has made an impact on all, especially on young people. The church is concerned about the migration of young from rural areas to towns and cities in India and abroad. They have great appreciation for their Catholic faith and would love to participate more in Church life. Yet it lamented that a number of young people have sadly become victims of substance and sex abuse which is a matter for serious concern. Bishops of India are committed to make youth ministry as an integral part to facilitate a Trinitarian, communitarian and ecclesial experience of spirituality for the youth, leading them to the Eucharist as the source and summit of Christian life. While providing the necessary infrastructure to train the youth, particularly the dalit group, the Bishops said that they would encourage the youth to take up the responsibility to be leaders of the future and called on them to work in the task of evangelization so that the Good News may be heard throughout our country and get involved in the issues of human rights and social justice. The Bishops invited the young men and women with sound moral values and personal integrity, whom people can trust, to enter into politics and build up the nation by working for the all-round development of our people, especially the poor and the marginalized, and thus become witness to God’s presence and redeeming activity. They promised to stand by them in their journey towards establishing peace and harmony in our motherland.
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