Leaders of Catholic Religious in Kerala have expressed dismay over falling image of the consecrated life and set up a “grievance cell” to amicably resolve conflicts within and between congregations.

The Dec. 9 general body meeting of Kerala unit of Conference of Religious India (CRI) also decided to enhance collaboration between Religious and bishops to better the Church’s work in the state.

The meeting of some 130 priests, Brothers and nuns discussed among other issues the challenges of Religious life in the state’s socio-political situation.

The new “grievance cell” aims to look “into all aspects of conflicts and facilitate reconciliation in the spirit of the Gospel. It includes inter and intra congregational affairs,” said a note from CRI headquarters in New Delhi.

Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios of Mavelikara, president of the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC), while opening the meet, spoke of the changes in social attitude toward Religious life.

The prelate, who also heads the Religious-Bishops Join Commission, called for “self-examination” among the Religious. The whole Church is “wounded” even if only one congregation is criticized, he added.

He suggested forming an expert team in provinces to deal with crisis situations.

KCBC and CRI Kerala unit jointly met on Dec. 10 to address major issues affecting the Church. They have decided to jointly work on issues that affect the Church’s image.

Among other issues they said political hostility of the state’s communist government has to be addressed. The unity of the Church must be preserved “in spite of internal bickering and antagonism outside,” said a note of the meet.

“Religious Life as a form of life is facing unprecedented challenges” from within congregations and outside it, said Father Jose Panthaplamthottiyil, national president of CRI’s priests section.

The Prior General of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate presented the key-note on “Religious in the contemporary Socio-Political Scenario.”

“Our belief system and traditional practices are crumbling from within and we are finding it difficult to play an active role in the socio-political context where hostile atmosphere is prevalent,” he said.

He regretted the media projecting the Religious life in bad light and urged the participants to draw the media attention to their positive contributions to nation building and service to the needy.

“Let us build on our strength instead of being affected by the weaknesses that get highlighted in the public sphere,” urged the Carmelite priest.

Source: CRI/UCAN

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