Thiruvananthapuram: The head of the Catholic Church in Kerala says all Christian schools should include the Indian Constitution in their curriculum.
“Everyone should actively work for ensuring the secular values promised by the Constitution. It is highly dangerous that hatred and fear are invoked among various groups as a shortcut to power. Learned community and political leaders should come together against such practices,” said Archbishop Maria Calist Soosa Pakiam of Trivandrum, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Council.
In an interview with The Times of India, the Latin rite prelate expressed his concern over rising intolerance in society.
The country’s new generation, he added, needs to love the Constitution along with the traditions of the country. Inclusion of the Constitution in the curriculum will help in protecting it.
“The provisions in the Constitution that define and decide the basic character of the nation should be protected in co-relation. Threats to the Constitution should be considered as a threat to the existence of the country,” Bishop Pakiam asserted.
As a first step, the archbishop wants Christian schools to set an example by making constitutional literacy in their curriculum. “All Christian schools should include constitutional literacy in their moral science training as well,” he added.
The Kerala prelate’s suggestion came in the backdrop of pastoral letters written by his counterpart in Delhi and Goa in the past one month. According to Archbishop Pakiam, those letters and statements by the two prelates were not aimed at any political parties. “They must have spoken seeing some danger signs. All parties have good people and bad people,” he added.
On June 5, Archbishop Father Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa and Daman issued the saying that the Constitution is in danger, and most of the people are living in insecurity.
Archbishop Anil Joseph Couto of Delhi on May 8 urged his people to pray and fast for the nation that was facing turbulence atmosphere in recent years.
“We pray for our own renewal and that of the country. Keeping in mind all that is happening in our country we said that we look forward to next election and next government. Every government should protect people and the constitution,” Archbishop Couto said.