Nagpur: The national forum of Catholic journalists has urged the media and the Church to wake up to the growing atrocities on the minorities and the marginalized.

“We need to wake up collectively, effectively and immediately to what’s happening around us. The atrocities are a wake-up call for the media, the Church and others,” said Archbishop Abraham Viruthakulangara of Nagpur inaugurating the 22nd national convention of Christian Journalists on February 24.

More than 40 delegates from various parts India attended the convention held at the Pastoral Centre, Nagpur, as part of the Indian Catholic Press Association’s annual assembly.

The association held its 53rd general assembly on February 24-25.

Archbishop Viruthakulangara regretted that the constitutional guarantees are no more a reality for many citizens.

“The media should help and inspire us and others to respond to the atrocities. Delayed response is no response,” he asserted at the convention with the theme “Media response to the atrocities against minorities/dalits.”

Jesuit social analyst Father Ambrose Pinto, in his keynote address, lamented that the mainstream media now promotes “by and large low-intensity communalism.” The principal of St. Aloysius Degree College in Bengaluru, southern India, also pointed out that the big media networks neglected issues of justice when the victims are from the oppressed communities.

Prof Rayalu Yugal of Dharampeth Science College, who addressed the convention, said “biased media makes democracy hallow and shallow as media’s role is to be watchdog. People’s issues are often ignored by the media.’

Fr Ambrose Pinto
Bishop Salvadore Lobo, chairman of the Office for Social Communication under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, also addressed the meeting. “Communicators need to be more alert and professional to be the salt of the earth,” he said while urging Catholic journalists to communicate hope and uphold the dignity of people and Christian values through their writings.

The ICPA assembly urged the federal and state governments to take effective measures to uphold the fundamental rights and to curb atrocities against religious minorities and marginalized groups.

It also expressed its dismay over the continued captivity of Salesian Father Tom Uzhunnalil. Suspected Islamic militants abducted him from a home for elderly in Aden, a port city in Yemen.

The Catholic media body urged the Indian government to take concerted efforts without further delay for the priest’s safety and early liberation.

ICPA has set up a media awareness team to conduct training programs across the country for budding writers and journalists.

(Source: Press Release)