Bellary Bishop Urges “To Speak Out”

(February 12, 2009) We are living at a time when the environment is polluted and impressionable minds are poisoned by the vested interests. Therefore, people of good will need to speak out,” declared the Bishop of Bellary Henry D’Souza. Bishop D’Souza was speaking at Sandesha Media Awards 2009 presentation ceremony on Sunday, 8th February, at 5.30 p.m. at Sandesha Regional Communications Centre, Mangalore. The annual awards are presented every year for the outstanding contributions to the field of literature, arts and media under the auspices of the Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops' Council. “The vested interests are harming the secular fabric of the country through the so called vigilante groups”, and are “sowing seeds of intolerance and division in the society”, regretted Bishop D’Souza. Bishop D’Souza urged all people of good will – litterateurs, artistes, media persons, social workers and religious leaders to “rise as one body” to foster social amity and brotherhood in the society. He congratulated Sandesha for completing its 20 years of meritorious service and recalled the early stages of its inception in 1989. He was the founder director of the institution which promotes literature, media and fine arts. Earlier Bishop D’Souza presented citations, trophies and cash awards of Rs. Ten thousand each, to nine outstanding artists. Fr. Prashanth Madtha, a Jesuit received the Konkani Literature Award. Bishop Aloysius P. D'Souza of Mangalore delivered the presidential address. He congratulated the awardees as well as the Sandesha Institution for completing twenty years of service.