Monday, Jun 20, 2005
Monday, Jun 20, 2005 |
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Special Correspondent
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Region Latin Catholic Council, representing an estimated 20 lakh Latin Catholics in the State, has decided to abandon its decades-old pro-Congress stance and adopt a political position free from permanent allegiances aimed at protecting the larger interests of the community. The Council has decided to constitute a Political Affairs Committee, comprising mostly members of the laity, to formulate the political line of the community from time to time. Briefing reporters on the conclusion of a two-day brainstorming session of the Council, attended by around 150 select members of the clergy and laity from all over the State, here on Sunday, Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram Susaipakiam and Archbishop of Varapuzha Daniel Acharuparambil said what the community proposed to pursue was not `opportunistic equidistance,' as such stand is normally understood, but a `value-based and issue-based' political position. The two Archbishops pointed out that the Council's new stance was not against anyone or any political party in particular. While it is true that the community has decided to review its traditional leaning towards the Congress, it does not mean that the community has chosen to lean towards the Left. "We are not blindly opposed to Communism today. We consider both the LDF and UDF to be secular formations, but we are no longer prepared to trust anyone blindly," they said. The policy document adopted by the Council meeting said that though the Congress had in the past adopted positions favouring the Latin Catholic community, the same could not be said about the current stance of the party. Fisherfolk, construction workers, plantation labourers and Dalits are neglected. The Latin Catholic community is not receiving the consideration it deserves in Government or in the party. Reservation benefits due to the community, as revealed by the Narendran Commission, are also being denied.
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