Report of the Meeting
of the Committee for Public Affairs, Dec.19, 2013
The
Committee for Public Affairs was constituted with a view to getting a wider and
balanced opinion on “events that affect the interests of the Syro-Malabar Community
/Church.”
The
Episcopal members of the Committee are the following: Mar Andrews Thazhath(Chairman),Mar Joseph
Powathil, Mar Mathew Moolakkatt, Mar Mathew Arackal, Mar Joseph Kallarangatt, Mar
Jose Porunnedom and Mar Remigiose Inchananiyil.
The first
meeting of this newly constituted Committee for the Public Affairs was held at Mt.St.Thomas,
on Dec.19th at 10a.m.The meeting was inaugurated by Mar Andrews Thazhath,
the Chairman of the Committee.
In his
inaugural address, the Archbishop praised the great work done by Mar Joseph
Powathil, the previous President and by Fr.Philip Nelpuraparampil, the previous
Secretary. The Archbishop also made a reference to the work that was done by
the members of the previous committee in preparing four important documents on
current social problems which are in the process of publication. He then asked
the Committee to work as a Think Tank for the Synod of Bishops and elicited
their views on various issues and problems that face the Church today.
He mentioned
that the Catholic community is getting relegated in many areas where the Church
had given very valuable contributions especially in the areas of education,
agriculture and business. He observed that in the entertainment media the
Christian symbols of faith are being denigrated. The community has not reacted
strongly to such tendencies as it is very inclusive and tolerant.
Cardinal Mar
George Alencherry in his Presidential Address invited the members to become
more active by offering their thoughts for a new vision in the social,
educational and cultural areas for the Church. He asked all the sections of the
community to come together when the Church faces issues that challenge its role
in the world. All the different organizations and forums of the Church have to
act together in order to become the common voice of the Church. Responses to
issues should be done in a spirit of unity. He thanked the participants for
their willingness to share their time and talents for the Church.
The Major
Archbishop also mentioned the steps he had taken at the highest level to
resolve the problem that was caused by the decision of the Central Govt. to
implement the Kasturi Rangan Report and offered his support for the resolution
of the problem through negotiation and discussion with the Government, Central
and State.
Mr.P.C.Cyriac
who is at present a member of the State Commission to study the impact of the
Kasturi Rangan Report spoke about the conflicts and tensions that have arisen
in the State because of the conclusions of the Report.
Mr.Biju
Paranilam presented a brief paper explaining the impact of the Kasturi Rangan Report
on the farmers of the High Ranges areas and urged the community to be vigilant
as well as to be very vocal in protesting against the harmful parts of the Report.
Fr.Paul Thelekatt, Sr.Johnsy, Fr.Scaria Urumbil, Prof.K.A.Francis ,Dr.P.K.Abraham and Fr.Mathew Chandrankunnel intervened in the discussion afterwards
pointing out the need to preserve communal harmony, to seek legal
remedies, and to take care of the needs of the people while protecting the
forests.
Abp.Mar
Andrews Thazhath mentioned the weakness of the community in dealing with the
negative propaganda unleashed against the Church in the media by various
advocacy groups. He urged the participants to continue putting pressure on the
Govt.
The
afternoon session was devoted to the recent tendency in the entertainment media
to denigrate Christian symbols and the discussion was chaired by Dr.Kurias
Kumbalakuzhy. The discussion was based in part on a paper prepared by Mr.Tony
Chittilappaly on the depiction of an antichristian bias in the new generation
movies. Mr.Sabu Jose presented a paper in the light of the ideas presented by Tony.
Dr.Kurias in
his observations mentioned the presence of a great drawback in the formation of
the young people. The faith has not become very personal to them as it was to
the older generation. The new generation of young Catholics is not capable of
rejecting what is morally objectionable based on their faith. They have become
more tolerant and inclusive because of a lack of strong religious convictions.
The
participants wanted the Church to use the social media more effectively as it
is there that the young people become more vitally present. It was demanded
that experts in particular fields should be delegated when responses to the
media are to be given. Msgr.Philip Najaralakatt, Fr.Chandrankunnel, Mr. Cyriac
Chazhikatt, and Mr.P.C.Cyriac intervened to propose to have a media school,
to help the parents to be more prepared in offering values to children at home
and also to hold an internal dialogue among various sections of the Church.
Dr.Lalichan Kallampally suggested that it would be better to have a
professional organization to observe and respond to various issues as they
arise. Mr. P. C. Cyriac pointed
out that some of the educational agencies of the Church are portrayed as very
business-oriented. He wanted the
parishes to take up improvements of the infrastructure of the Govt. and Aided
schools who have no financial means to improve their facilities, in their
geographical boundaries which would definitely refurbish the image of the
contribution of the Church in the field of education.
Mar Andrews Thazhath
thanked the members for their participation and contributions and asked them to
continue to share their views as a Think-Tank for the Church. His Grace
further told the Committee that the
report of the meeting will be brought to the attention of all the Episcopal
members of the Committee as well as to the Synod. A quarterly meeting of the
Committee was also proposed.
All the members got a chance to offer their
views on the topics proposed for discussion at the meeting.
Fr. George Madathiparampil
Secretary
Jan.2,14
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