Church to Work with State Government on Flood Rehabilitation
(October 10, 2009) The Catholic Church in Karnataka state is to cooperate with the
southern Indian state’s pro-Hindu government to rehabilitate victims of recent floods.
Five bishops from the state’s affected northern region met October 8 and resolved
to “collaborate with the government” rather than work in isolation. The devastating
floods in the first week of October killed more than 200 people and damaged properties
worth 200 billion rupees (US$4.25 billion). Caritas India, the social action wing
of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, and its American counterpart Catholic
Relief Services, are among scores of Christian agencies engaged in relief and rehabilitation
work in the state. Bishop Peter Machado of Belgaum, who hosted the prelates’ meeting,
said that they have decided to cater to only those who have registered their damages
with the government. “It is both to avoid duplication and to enhance cooperation
with the government,” the prelate explained. The Church has joined the state government’s
efforts to raise funds for flood rehabilitation. Many dioceses and laypeople have
donated to the state chief minister’s relief fund that has already collected more
than 50 million rupees locally. [Belgaum district’s deputy commissioner, who attended
the bishops’ meeting, asked the Church to cooperate with the administration. Officials
of other districts have made similar appeals to other dioceses in the state, Bishop
Machado said.] Meanwhile, Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore, who heads the Church
in the state, has appealed to Catholics to donate generously to help flood victims.