New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) on Friday expressed concern over a move to hold a meeting of chief justices of High Courts starting on Good Friday.
A letter addressed to Supreme Court Chief Justice H L Dutta, who has reportedly called for the three-day meeting, the bishops “respectfully” requested for taking “cognizance of the legitimate feelings of Christians in India.”
The letter signed by CBCI Deputy Secretary General Monsignor Joseph Chinnayyan pleads with the chief justice to adopt appropriate measures “to reassure us that our legitimate religious sentiments be honored and the sacrosanct character of Good Friday and Christmas Day will be upheld.”
The Indian government had observed last Christmas as a good governance day, triggering widespread reactions from Christians and others.
The bishops’ letter noted that Good Friday is one of the most important days of the year for Christians all over the world, when the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the redemption of humanity is remembered with devotion.
“Good Friday is a sacred day for all the people of good will, belonging to all faith and religion, in which the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is remembered,” the letter says.
The bishops also explain that India has always observed with respect sacred days of all religions, especially those of the minorities. Although the number of people attending the chief justices’ meeting would be minimal, the fact it is held on a sacred day of Christians would shatter this centuries-old tradition.
“It could be rightly said that for Christians, Christmas, Good Friday and Easter are the three most important days, where we remember and recall with gratitude the Birth, the Death and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ,” the prelates explain.
They also note that the country had respected for centuries these days that Christians observe with sanctity and piety.
“Any move to minimize the importance of these days, either intentionally or unintentionally, hurt the feelings of Christians,” the bishops’ letter says.