All India Catholic Union Calls for Participative Church

September 12, 2012: The All India Catholic Union [AICU], the 93 year old apex Laity organization, has called for a participatory Church in India in which diocesan bishops, priests, women religious and the lay Catholics work together to strengthen the laity and serve the people of the country.

In a press statement at the conclusion of the dialogue between the AICU and the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), AICU National President Eugene Gonsalves said collaboration and cooperation between the hierarchy, clergy and laity was required at this juncture when the Catholic church in India was facing many challenges and threats. Transparency and joining of hands would lead to a stronger church at the grassroot level in the parishes.
AICU was represented in the dialogue by Mr. Gonsalves, National Vice President Lancy D’Cunha and Honorary Treasurer Anthony Maddala. The CBCI was represented by Chairman of CBCI Office for Laity Bishop Stanley Roman and Member Bishop Abraham Mar Julios of Muvattupuzha and Secretary Fr. Vincent Chinnadurai.

Mr. Gonsalves said their demands and suggestions to the Bishops were based on the provisions of Canon Law and the Codes of the Oriental Churches as well as the Documents of the Second Vatican Council held in Rome 50 years ago. There was no confrontation, nor acrimony on the relations. Bishops and the laity could not exist without each other, Mr. Gonsalves said. The Catholic union listed the formation of Catholic Associations and Diocesan and Parish councils in 166 Dioceses in the country at the heart of a newly strengthened church. Lay participation in matters of financial management and in educational and other institutions would go a long way in removing current infirmities.
A memorandum submitted to the CBCI also listed compulsory admission for catholic children in Church-run educational institutions essential. This is a matter of the right of the Children to a Catholic education, and a duty of the Church, Mr. Gonsalves said. The memorandum noted that in many of the Dioceses Pastoral Councils have not been convened. It is important that the diocesan Bishops convene Pastoral Councils in each and every Diocese with utmost urgency.
The AICU memorandum said the temporal needs of the faithful such as education, employment, basic housing for the marginalized, and the day to day needs are many. A duly constituted body must be formed of the laity of the Diocese, in a manner advised by the diocesan Bishop, which will cooperate in the exercise of the same power of governance which is given to those who are in sacred orders to address these needs.