Church expresses anguish over new abortion law

| FEBRUARY 18, 2020, 03:26 AM IST

the goan I network

PANAJI

Archbishop of Goa and Daman and President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) Filipe Neri Ferrão has called for a construction of a society without any discrimination of caste, creed, language or ethnicity even as Bishops expressed serious concern over the new Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act at a national meet.  

Delivering his presidential address at the inaugural function of the 32 Plenary Assembly of the CCBI of the Latin Church in Bengaluru, Archbishop Ferrão also underlined the need to promote nation building even amidst difficulties and to further brotherhood and peace.   

The CCBI, which is the Canonical National Episcopal Conference, is the largest in Asia and the fourth largest in the world. The CCBI animates the Church in India through its 16 Commissions and 4 Departments. Its main Secretariat is in Bangalore with extensions in Goa, Delhi and Pachmarhi (MP).   

The one-day meeting of the CCBI discussed various matters affecting the Latin Catholic Church in India, which consists of 132 dioceses and 190 Bishops.   

Archbishop Ferrão expressed his joy over the Plenary Assembly as well as participation of the Christians in the nation building and also expressed his thanks to all efforts for the growth of the Indian Church at all fronts.   

He also updated the assembly about the inauguration of CCBI extension office Shanti Sadan in Goa on January 6.   

Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal Giambattista 

Diquattro exhorted the Bishops in India to urge the faithful to live the Gospel values in the situations of their daily life.   

“The followers of Christ have the responsibility to promote the Gospel values of mercy and compassion. The Bishops in our country should encourage the faithful to deepen the values of the Gospel in their lives,” said the Apostolic Nuncio.   

Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay, who is one of the consultors of Pope Francis, requested the Bishops to promote the culture of life and brotherhood in the country.   

He expressed serious concern over the new Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act of the Central Government, which allows abortion at any time during the pregnancy till the 24-week gestation period.   

“Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. The Church has been unwavering in its protection of the sanctity of human life, from conception until natural death. Bishops have the responsibility to spread Christ’s message about the dignity of all human life”, affirmed Cardinal Oswald Gracias.   

Archbishop George Antonysamy of Madras-Mylapore and Vice President of the CCBI, Archbishop Anil Couto of Delhi and Secretary General of the CCBI and CCBI Deputy Secretary General Fr Stephen Alathara also spoke at the 32 Plenary Assembly.   

On the occasion, the new English Lectionary (3 Volumes) along with Book of Gospels, Rite of Administering Marriage, Rite of Administering Sacrament of Confirmation and Querida Amazon were released by the Apostolic Nuncio, Cardinal Gracias and Archbishop Ferrão.   

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Cardinal Gracias re-elected CBCI president   

PANAJI: Cardinal Oswald Gracias has been re-elected as President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), while Archbishop of Vasai Felix Machado is the new secretary general.   

The other two vice presidents, Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios of Mavelikara (Vice-President-I) and Archbishop George Njaralakatt of Tellicherry (Vice-President-II) have also been re-elected.   

The CBCI is at the service of 174 dioceses across the nation, of which 31 are Syro-Malabar, 11 are Syro-Malankara and 132 are Latin dioceses.   


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