The Executive Committee Meeting of CCI

BANGALORE, May 04, 2010, 16:50 Hrs (CCI):

The Executive Committee of the Catholic Council of India, in its meeting held on the 25th of April 2010 at St. John’s Bangalore elected Fr Paul Pulikkan from the archdiocese of Thrissur, as the new Secretary and Adv. Anjali Cyrus from the diocese of Kottappuram as the new Treasurer of CCI. These posts were vacant as Fr. Varghese Pullan SAC the secretary and Dr. Anniyankunju, the treasurer had finished their term of office. The meeting was presided over by Oswald Cardinal Gracias. The newly elected office bearers’ term of office is for four years (2010- 2014).

The Executive Committee meeting while discussing on various issues of National concerns passed the following resolutions. .

The resolutions

This Executive Committee meeting of the Catholic Council of India expresses its grave concern and sense of despair at the recent trends in judicial pronouncements wherein practices such as live-in relationships and homosexuality come in for apparent approval. These practices go against dignified human relationships, our basic culture and strong family ties. The apex court may take note of these factors which are the fundamentals of life of the majority of our people.

The Executive Committee, while congratulating the Government on the passing of the Right to Education act which ensures the right of the child for quality education till it attains the age of fourteen, expresses its concern and strong opposition to the clauses of the bill which envisages administrative committees for educational institutions, consisting of persons drawn outside the immediate school community. The collective efforts of the management, teachers and the representatives of the parents have been instrumental in the progress of schools. Such collective work may be strengthened and the pivotal role of the management running the institution approved. In the institution run by the minorities, the proposed legislation would lead to an abridgement, if not a negation of the fundamental rights guaranteed under art. 30. 1 of the Constitution. We are happy to note that the government has made amendments in this regard with respect to minority institution, saying that the proposed committee will be only advisory in nature. Experience shows that whatever be the nomenclature, such bodies could interfere in the fundamental rights. Therefore, the Committee request the government to drop this clause altogether.

3. The Executive Committee disapproves all kinds of extremist organizations and expresses its anxiety over the acts of violence killing innocent people. Whatever be their end, we cannot justify violence. We also appeal to the authorities to plan the strategy of economic development to be all inclusive. We put on record our moral support to all the social workers and the NGOs, working for the tribals, the dalits and other marginalized