Cardinal Gracias inaugurates documentary on India’s Christians.

(Oct.06,2010) Catholics in India number about 18 million, less than 2% of the country’s little over one billion population, yet, they have made a strong impact on the nation’s progress and development, said the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, made the remarks in his address on Tuesday to Italy’s Chamber of Deputies in Rome, when he inaugurated a Documentary film titled“India’s Christians”. The documentary was produced by Elizabeth Valgiusti for “Salvaimonasteri” or “Save the Monasteries,” an Italian association of academics, artists and media experts.
The Association’s interest and activity is focussed mainly on cultural heritage, through media and cultural projects, for the protection and promotion of historical and religious sites; for preserving and spreading cultural patrimony and traditions with a specific regard to the Christian heritage in areas of crises. Cardinal Gracias spoke of the challenges to faith faced by Christians in India during the past two years, particularly in Orissa, Mangalore and Kerala. But he also lauded the practice of religion and the work of the Church in the 165 dioceses in India. The documentary was filmed in the Christian communities of the North and South of the country. It highlighted the role of Christians in the Indian social and cultural development of the country and their contribution to the history and future of the Church in India.