Christian associations to hold conclave to empower laity

Christian associations to hold conclave to empower laity

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 5: The Christian Reforms Foundation and Indian Christian Service Association will jointly organize a 1-day Christian Conclave at Sahodaya in Balmatta on May 8, Sunday. Convener P. B. D’Sa told reporters that the event will be based on the theme “empower the laity.”

Explaining the theme of the event, he said that India has 7000 parishes and several institutions such as schools, colleges, hospitals, and commercial complexes. The Mangalore Diocese alone has 160 churches and institutions. The annual turnover of these establishments is huge, with each parish in Mangalore collecting not less than Rs. 25 lakh in the name of God.

The fees collected for funeral ceremonies and allotment of graves is estimated to be 4 times more than what priests claim to collect as membership fees and fees for various religious rituals. Cemeteries are allotted free of cost by the government to churches under strict condition that they should not trade, alienate, sell, lease out, or rent out the land meant for burying the dead. However, the clergy stands guilty of selling burial plots for Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh to people who can afford it, while two more dead people from the same family are permitted to be buried in the same place at 50 percent additional costs. He labeled this as just a sample of the huge business run by 2 percent clergy with the help of funds put up by 99 percent Christians. He said that churches are just corporate entities headed by priests whose sole duty is to worship God.

Justice M. F. Saldanha will deliver the keynote address titled “From Darkness to Light.” Prof. John B. Cutinha will speak on the topic “Pros and Cons of Empowering.” Victims will share their stories and experiences on the occasion.