Christian persecution an exaggeration says head of Syro-Malankara Church

(April 18, 2012) :The “so-called” Christian persecutions allegedly taking place in India are only fragmented and provisional” and reports on them are exaggerated, said the head of the Syro-Malankara Church, one of the three ritual churches in India. “We have to acknowledge that India’s vast majority of Hindus has protected us from the time Christianity arrived in India,” Major Archbishop Baselios Mar Cleemis of Trivandrum told the opening session of the April 17-18 Mission Congress, organised by the Conference of Religious India - CRI, in Bangalore, Karnataka State. Some 300 priests, brothers and nuns are taking part in the Mission Congress on the theme “Let your light shine brighter”. Major Archbishop Cleemis in his keynote address, urged the Indian Christians to become open-minded and respectful to Hindus and not view them as a threat to the Christian community in India. He told Congress participants that the gift of faith is free and so we must share it freely. The prelate highlighted preaching, verbal proclamation, multiple means of communication and utilization of church institutions: such as educational and health-care institutions as the best means to spread the Gospel. message.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, who opened the “Mission Congress” at Dharmaram College campus, underscored the need to first begin evangelization. from self. He noted that culture, economy, civics and politics need to be based on ethical and gospel values, if they have to benefit people.
Archbishop Bernards Moras of Bangalore, regretted that secularization of Church institutions has become a major hurdle in the promotion of Christian values and evangelization. He called on the Church to involve and engage in the neighbourhood and cultivate a sense of belonging among the people to strengthen the ecclesiastical communion in India. The inaugural meeting was followed by Holy Mass in Latin.