Catholic community charts political comeback in central Travancore
The All Kerala Catholic Congress (AKCC), the official lay organisation of the Syro-Malabar Church, has come up with a community empowerment action plan aimed at fielding the maximum number of community members in the forthcoming local body elections. The move follows a recent call by the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC), urging young Christians to actively enter politics.
'There will be no restrictions on our members contesting under any political party,' said AKCC president Biju Sebastian. 'In fact, we have decided to support all those who uphold secular values and lead principled lives. We will stand by those who stand by us,' he added.
Safeguard against threats
According to Mr. Sebastian, the organisation seeks widespread political participation by community members as a safeguard against growing societal threats including the increasing prevalence of drug abuse.
Speaking at a meeting convened by the AKCC on Sunday, Changanassery Bishop Mar Thomas Tharayil echoed this sentiment, calling for 'creative interventions' in the upcoming elections. He urged the faithful to step forward while upholding Christian values.
'A society where so many deaths occur from stray dog attacks is unheard of elsewhere. It's disheartening that stray animals receive more attention than human beings,' the Bishop remarked. 'Wild animals continue to endanger lives and destroy farms. In Kuttanad, people have been living under floodwaters for months. Once manageable, flooding has now become a crisis, primarily due to silt-clogged rivers, streams, and backwaters. All of this reflects the apathy of those in power,' he added.
Rebuilding influence
According to Church sources, the initiative is part of a broader strategy to counter the declining visibility of Catholics in central Travancore's public and political life. 'There has been a sharp drop in the number of Catholic youth participating in social spaces, primarily due to migration. Yet political parties continue to seek the support of the community. The Church sees this as a chance to rebuild its influence,' said a senior Church official. Recently, the Catholic Church felicitated elected representatives from its community in their respective parishes.
In recent times, the Catholic Church has brought a range of issues to the attention of political parties, ranging from wildlife intrusions in high-range settlements to the deepening farm distress. Other concerns raised by the Church include the prolonged freeze on teacher appointments in aided schools and the delay in implementing the recommendations of the J.B. Koshy Commission, which examined the challenges faced by the Christian community in Kerala.
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