The Telangana government on December 1 announced gifts received by each Christian church including 500 gift packages consisting of clothing for those in need. “The Catholic Church appreciates and welcomes Christmas gifts from the Telangana government,” Father Joseph Arlagadda, deputy secretary of the Telugu Catholic Bishops Council (TCBC) from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, told UCA News.
Father Anthoniraj Thumma, regional director of the Interfaith Dialogue and Ecumenical Commission, also welcomed the government’s position. He said that the country was active in taking part in celebrations of all religious groups, adding that Christmas had been declared an official festival. “This helps promote good relations and mutual harmony,” said Father Thumma, executive secretary of the Telugu Church Federation.
Just before December 25, state officials will hold a Christmas dinner with church leaders from various denominations. Father Arlagadda said the Telangana government led by Kalvakuntla Chandra Shekhar Rao was tolerant of Christian and Muslim communities. Rao has distributed clothes to Christian families and hosted Christmas dinners in the past, the priest said.
Most independent churches benefit from government programs and several Protestant Churches in the twin cities, Hyderabad and Secunderabad, are also listed on the recipient list. The state has other initiatives that also benefit the Christian community in fields such as employment and education. The Catholic Church in the Telugu region, which includes Telangana and neighboring Andhra Pradesh, has built good relations with state officials.
Receiving Christmas presents and attending dinners organized by their respective governments have become events that build bridges of relationships between residents in the region. “The church is looking forward to official talks with the government about many of the major issues affecting the lives and practices of Christian charities in both states,” Father Arlagadda said.
In the past, there have been sporadic incidents by hardline Hindus who attacked some Christians but the government immediately resolved these cases, the priest said. With the same state capital of Hyderabad, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh formed in 2014. The Christian population in the two states is 1.13 million, according to the 2011 census. uca.news
