The head of the Catholic Church in India on July 27 expressed shock at the National Commission for Women’s demand for a ban on the Christian practice of confession. The 73-year-old prelate, one of the eight cardinal advisers of Pope Francis, said such a ban will directly infringe on “our freedom of religion guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.” The cardinal was reacting to commission chairperson Rekha Sharma’s recommendation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and some of his cabinet colleagues to take steps to abolish the practice of confession in Christian Churches.
As reported by mattersindia.com, His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracias, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, said in a press release. that “This demand by the commission betrays a total lack of understanding of the nature, meaning, sanctity and importance of this Sacrament for our people; and also an ignorance of the strict laws of the Church to prevent any abuse. Millions of people from all over the world, over the centuries, have testified to the spiritual benefit of this Sacrament and to the grace, pardon and peace they have experienced as a result of receiving this Sacrament.” Further, the Cardinal added, “I am confident the government will totally ignore this absurd demand from the commission.”
His Eminence Cardinal Gracias exhorted the commission to pay attention to “very many issues concerning women” such as empowerment of women, their capacity building, prevention of domestic violence and organizing rescue systems, instead of dabbling in religious matters about which it understands nothing. “The Church wishes to promote even more the advancement of women in society and is ready to collaborate with the National Commission for Women for this, as it does with other agencies,” Cardinal Gracias remarked.
Source: www.mattersindia.com
