Memorandum To The Political Parties by Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches

Memorandum To The Political Parties By Andhra Pradesh Federation Of Churches
SECUNDERABAD, India, MAR. 20, 2009, 15.35 Hrs:
The Andhra Pradesh Federation of Churches (APFC), which is a representative body of the Christian Minority in the State consisting of the Bishops and Heads of Churches and Denominations, places before you the following issues and demands of the Christian Minority requesting you to include them in the election manifesto of your Party and work for their realization: 1. At least one Assembly seat in each district and one Lok Saba seat in each region of the State must be given to the Christian Minority to contest in the ensuing elections. 2. Introduce an amendment bill in the Parliament to extend SC status to the Dalit Christians by getting the unconstitutional and discriminatory Para 3 of Constitution (Presidential) Order 19 of 1950 deleted. 3. Remove the ban on the propagation of Faiths imposed by Act No. 24 of 2007 promulgated on 13-08-2007 and the related G.O. Ms. No: 746 and G.O. Ms. No: 747 both dated 02-06-2007 issued by Revenue (Endowments III) Department in 20 temple towns in the State, as these G.Os jeopardize the fundamental rights of all Non-Hindu citizens and provoke many attacks on the pastors and Christians. 4. To stop the increasing attacks on the Christians in the State and also our visiting guests from abroad, the extremist communal groups like the Bajrang Dal and the groups behind the murders of pastors must be banned, and communal organisations be checked and brought to book whenever they commit atrocities or wage hate campaign. To curb continuing violence on the Minorities, “Prevention of Minorities Atrocities Act” may be enacted in line with the “Prevention of SC ST Atrocities Act, 1989”. Immediately arrest and prosecute through Special Courts, the culprits responsible for the present atrocities on Christians in various States. Set up a 24-Hour toll free Help Line to the Minorities to call the Police and other authorities. Institute a high level judicial Commission to inquire into the violence on Christians in Orissa, Karnataka, A.P. and other States to bring the culprits to the book. 5. As most of the Christians are backward, at least 25% of the welfare schemes, educational loans and scholarships, housing, land distribution, other developmental programmes under the Prime Minister’s 15 Point Programme and state budget of the Minority Welfare Department be allocated to them. Adequate funds must be given to the “A.P. State Christian Minority Development and Finance Corporation” to ensure these benefits to the Christians. 6. Representations to the Christians be given in the various legislative and administrative bodies from the local to national levels, and in different Commissions / Boards, by way of election and / or nomination to bring about the political empowerment of the Christian Minority. 7. Allot lands for the construction of churches, community halls, education institutions and Christian burial grounds wherever the Christian communities request for them. 8. As directed by the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions (NCMEI), Church-run Educational Institutions be given Minority Status Certificates on a permanent basis without insisting on the percentage of intake of students, with a condition that no qualified Christian student is denied admission. An Act by name “A.P. Minority Educational Act” be enacted to avoid unnecessary harassment and difficulties in interpreting the Rules and Regulations applicable to Private Managements vis-à-vis the Minority Educational Institutions which have special status under Article 30 (1) of the Constitution. 9. Permission be given to the Church-run Educational Institutions to fill up vacant aided posts pending from 2003 and grant-in-aid be continued at least for the existing sanctioned posts without abolishing them at the retirement of the incumbents. Grant-in-aid be given to the Church-run Minority Educational Institutions through the Minority Welfare Department with funds drawn from various schemes / agencies like the Sarva Siksha Abiyan as it is being given to the Madarsas. 10. Exemption must be given from the payment of Property Tax and electricity tariffs on the churches buildings and the Church-run Educational and Welfare Institutions as they are charitable in nature. 11. Protect and retrieve the alienated Church properties by a special court / tribunal. Avoid interference in the management of Church properties and do not attempt to set up a Property Board to exercise control over them. The APFC urges your Party to uphold the national values of secularism, pluralism and communal harmony, to strive for social justice and equality of the marginalized groups, to ensure basic human rights of food, shelter, health, education and employment, and to promote the Minority Rights.
With best wishes to your Party in the ensuing elections,ANDHRA PRADESH FEDERATION OF CHURCHESSecunderabad – March 12, 2009.Fr Dr Anthoniraj ThummaExecutive Secretary, A.P. Federation of Churches
Source: http://www.cbcisite.com/cbcinews2753.htm

Bishop Gali Bali honoured with "Bharat Jyoti Awared"

Bp Dr Gali Bali Honoured With ‘Bharat Jyoti Award’
NEW DELHI, MAR. 17, 2009, 10.30 Hrs: (CBCI News)
Bp Dr Gali Bali, Chairman of the Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue, Catholic Bishops Conference of India, New Delhi, was honored with ‘Bharat Jyoti Award’ by India International Friendship Society, New Delhi, on 14 March 2009.

The award was given at a seminar on ‘Economic Growth and National Integration’ organized by the above society at Hotel Connaught, New Delhi, at 14. 30 hrs. Dr A. V. G. Krishnamurthy, former Chief Election Commissioner of India, was the Chief Guest on the occasion and Mr Vishwanarayan, the former Governor of Tamil Nadu and Assam, presided over the function. Both the dignitaries jointly performed the award-giving ceremony.
Dr Gali Bali was given the award for his personal accomplishments, life-time achievements, significant service in the field of religious and social service and for his outstanding contribution to the human society as well as to the Christian community. He is renowned for his visionary leadership in his religious, educational, medical and other areas of operations. Presently, he is Bishop of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.
Having secured doctorate on ‘Bible and Christian Theology’ from Rome, Italy, he has authored several books, articles and translations. He was Professor, and later Rector as well, at St John’s Regional Seminary, Hyderabad, for 14 years. He has participated in and addressed various national and international conferences. He was the President of Jesu Khrist Jayanti–2000. He has held, and continues to hold, several responsible positions in the national and continental Departments and Commissions of the Catholic Church. In addition to his mother tongue Telugu, he has mastery over many languages like English, Latin, Italian, French, German, Greek and Hebrew.
He is endowed with noted personal qualities like simplicity, cordiality, friendliness and commitment to the cause. His attitude to people of other religious communities and social ideologies is admirably appreciative and open-minded. His approach to life is more practical than theoretical. He enjoys interacting with people of other communities and affiliations.
As Chairman of the National Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue, CBCI, he is deeply committed to dialogue, interaction, learning, creative relations, collaboration and harmony with all communities, in view of national and social integration. ‘Universal brotherhood and peace beyond all human-made boundaries’ is his ultimate motto in life. He is tuned to a higher spirituality in which every human being celebrates divine experience in a shared manner, amidst a communion of spiritual traditions.
The Commission for Inter-Religious Dialogue, CBCI, along with the whole community of the Catholic Church, extends hearty congratulations to Bp Dr Gali Bali on the prestigious award he has obtained and wishes further heights in his life.
http://www.cbcisite.com/cbcinews2743.htm