Christian schools are patriotic and models of integration, says Cardinal Gracias

(May 22, 2010) “All our Christian institutions are patriotic and no one can lecture us about patriotism. All our Christian Schools inculcate the values of patriotism and religious harmony. [...] and through the apostolate of education, we are serving the country”, says Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai and president of the Episcopal conference. He was responding to the municipality’s criticisms of the methods of teaching in Christian schools of the metropolis, by an alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena, which has been targeting the Christian Schools in Mumbai. The authorities accused the schools of preaching the Christian faith and preventing some typical practices of Hinduism. Cardinal Gracias rejected the allegations and underlined "the values of patriotism and religious harmony" that are inculcated in the students of the Christian Schools. He explained that "Our Christian institutions are run according to the Indian Constitution and have a Christian ethos and we absolutely cannot water down the fact that we are a Christian institution. Through our Apostolate of Education, we are serving the country. It is inclusive, respectful of all religions and importantly we have a code which respects all religions and students of every religious belief. All are schools are Models of Integration”. Cardinal Gracias pointed out that some groups are fed by fundamentalist ideologies of "creating a climate which" threatens peace and peaceful coexistence.