The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) expresses its profound grief and sorrow at the unprecedented floods affecting Kerala, causing heavy loss of lives and damage to crops, houses, cattle and property. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference also appreciates the quick and efficient relief work undertaken by the local and State Government authorities.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India remarked that “We share the anguish of the people affected by this huge natural disaster and we wish to express our closeness to them. We also appreciate the strong and immediate support being provided by the Union government in the relief operations.” Further, they added, “The solidarity manifested and the help being provided cutting across political divides and religious or class belongingness is exemplary. We salute the noble spirit of the people of Kerala as they valiantly battle the challenges faced by them in this critical and difficult time. The Catholic Church condoles the death of our brothers and sisters who were caught unaware as nature’s fury took hold of large parts of Kerala. We express our solidarity with the injured and the suffering. We pray for all those affected and also for all who are actively or through contributions helping the people in dire distress.”
The Bishops highlighted that the Catholic Church is already out in the field through her Wing of Mercy and Charity, Caritas India. Our local Bishops, Clergy, Religious Sisters and lay volunteers are also involved in relief and succour operations. In different dioceses, Church authorities have opened church schools and other institutions to the displaced people, and are distributing food, clothes and other relief materials. Many parishes, schools and other Church institutions have become the centres of aid and assistance to people in need. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India expressed its ardent desire to work with the Government and all like-minded agencies to provide relief and help in all possible ways to the suffering people.
