Religious’ forum pledges to defend Constitutional values

The workshop helped them to reflect on the vision and the values that are enshrined in the Constitution.

Guwahati:  The members of Forum for Justice and Peace (FORUM) have pledged to defend the values of Indian Constitution and the Bible with an aim to build a Church and a nation filled with the spirit of justice and peace.

Some 60 people of the Forum decided on this at a national workshop in Guwahati Feb. 23-25 that discussed the theme ‘In Defence of the Indian Constitution’.

The members said they are “convinced that in the context of the realities that have gripped the Church and society in India today, we have no option but to respond proactively to the challenges of our times.”

The workshop helped them to reflect on the vision and the values that are enshrined in the Constitution, the stranglehold of religious fundamentalism and the pro-corporate and anti-people economic policies, said a statement they released after the program.

The following are the other priorities listed in the statement:

To implement the call of Pope Francis in his message for ‘World Day of Peace 2019’: to engage in the political process for good governance and sustainable peace

To renew the mandate we have : that is to play our prophetic role both in the Church and society; to be visible and vocal in our stand for human rights, justice and peace -particularly of the poor, the marginalized, the minorities, the Dalits, the Adivasis/Tribals, the children and women of our country

To call upon our bishops, Religious superiors and all those involved in positions of leadership in the Church, to be faithful to the teachings of the Church especially the exhortations and encyclicals of Pope Francis, the statements of the CBCI and the CRI, and the final conclusions of our recent General/Provincial Chapters

To accompany our Adivasis/Tribals/Forest dwellers, in every way possible, in their struggle against eviction from forest lands and the denial of their legitimate rights

To support all victims of sexual abuse, of children and vulnerable adults; to ensure greater gender sensitivity at every level and not to become agents of a patriarchal Church and society

To uphold the work of human rights defenders and join them wherever possible

To network, collaborate and synergise with all, especially the Civil Society groups concerned about the challenges of our times. We shall join hands with them and keep our institutional spaces open to them.

END