Indian Catholic union wants hierarchy to follow pope

Kolkata, 20 August 2013: The All India Catholic Union (AICU) has urged the Church leaders in India to follow Pope Francis’ views of an enlarged role that the pontiff has called for men, women and youth in the Church.

While congratulating Pope Francis for revitalizing the Church, the Asia’s oldest laity organization demanded greater involvement of common people in management of church finances and temporal affairs.

According to UCA News, Pope’s ways have greatly enthused the faithful in India in all the three rites of the Church - Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara, the AICU said in a statement at the end of its two-day Working committee and general body meetings in Kolkata on Sunday.

“The people are now expecting that the bishops in India will also take similar steps to encourage lay participation in the many organs and structures of the Church, especially in matters of finance, management of temporal goods and in public life,” it said.

The AICU leadership also demanded that Indian bishops implement Canon Law provisions for the participation of the laity in finance and other committees.

The bishops should also ensure that every diocese and parish has a Catholic association in addition to a Pastoral Council, it said, adding that there is sufficient talent among the faithful to assist the clergy in the transparent functioning of these institutions.Source: UCAN