Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Daman has appealed the Catholic community to abide by the teachings of the Church and avoid saying or doing anything that could hurt the religious feelings of others.
“We exhort the Catholic community to abide by the teachings of the Church and avoid saying or doing anything that could hurt the religious feelings of others. May God bless our country,” said Ferrao
He further said that it is distressing to note that certain expressions used recently in public by some members of the Catholic Church may have hurt the religious sentiments of people of other religious traditions. This statement is issued to clarify the Church’s stand with regard to other religions.
India is blessed with a confluence of different religions, languages and cultures. This enriching diversity constitutes the very identity of our nation and every citizen has the sacred duty to value and respect others’ cultural heritage and religious integrity. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam is a value that is embedded in our ethos.
According to the teachings of the Church, Catholics are called to acknowledge, preserve and promote the spiritual and moral truths found in the social life and culture of other religious traditions (Vatican II’s Declaration on the Relationship with other Religions, 28 Oct 1965). The Church’s Apostolate of Inter-Religious Dialogue is precisely meant to foster this.
Pope Francis has reiterated the Church’s commitment to promote religious harmony and has cautioned against using religions to incite hatred, violence, extremism and blind fanaticism, and to refrain from using God’s name to justify acts of violence, injustice and oppression, which degrade the dignity of human life (Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, 5 Feb 2019).
In this regard we deeply regret that certain recent pronouncements made by some members of the Church have gone against the authentic spirit of inter-religious dialogue and reciprocal respect. We wish to assure that the Church leadership has taken appropriate action with regard to them and has also sternly warned them to avoid such utterances in the future.
We exhort the Catholic community to abide by the teachings of the Church and avoid saying or doing anything that could hurt the religious feelings of others. May God bless our country.
