- Feb 5, 2002
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New guidelines for Catholic schools from the Catholic bishops of India have elicited mixed reactions in the country, with many applauding the move to respect “all faith traditions” while others have accused the Church of bending to pressure from Hindu fundamentalists.
The 13-page document issued to India’s 15,000 Catholic educational institutions includes a recommendation that schools display the preamble to the Indian Constitution at school entrances and that children recite the preamble during daily assemblies.
The bishops’ education commission said the document was written “to face the emerging challenges due to the current socio-cultural-religious-political situation in India.” Its release comes ahead of elections that will take place between April 17 and June 1.
The guidelines come at a particularly tense time in India, where Hindus make up 79.8% of the population. The Hindu fundamentalist group Kutumba Surakshya Parishad (Family Safety Council) in Assam launched a protest in February demanding a ban on Christian symbols such as crosses and statues, the religious dress of priests and nuns, and Christian prayers in educational institutions.
Continued below.
www.catholicnewsagency.com
The 13-page document issued to India’s 15,000 Catholic educational institutions includes a recommendation that schools display the preamble to the Indian Constitution at school entrances and that children recite the preamble during daily assemblies.
The bishops’ education commission said the document was written “to face the emerging challenges due to the current socio-cultural-religious-political situation in India.” Its release comes ahead of elections that will take place between April 17 and June 1.
The guidelines come at a particularly tense time in India, where Hindus make up 79.8% of the population. The Hindu fundamentalist group Kutumba Surakshya Parishad (Family Safety Council) in Assam launched a protest in February demanding a ban on Christian symbols such as crosses and statues, the religious dress of priests and nuns, and Christian prayers in educational institutions.
Continued below.
Indian bishops’ ‘guidelines’ for Catholic schools find mixed reaction
The 13-page document issued to India’s 15,000 Catholic educational institutions includes a recommendation that schools display the preamble to the Indian Constitution.
www.catholicnewsagency.com
