WE ARE HEADING TOWARDS CULTURE OF DEATH

 

Bishop Thomas Macwan of Ahmedabad diocese raises concerns for rampant abortions, suicides and cases of surrogate mothers

 

By: Navin Macwan

 

Nadiad (Gujarat) SAR News –

 

A seminar on Social Teaching of the Church for the Lay Faithful on the theme of “promoting Culture of Life in context of Social Doctrine of the Church” was organized by the Kaira Social Service Society (KSSS), Ahmedabad on April 29 at Pastoral Centre, Nadiad.

 

Bishop of Ahmedabad Thomas Macwan inaugurating the seminar said, we are heading towards culture of death with so many abortion, suicides and cases of surrogate mothers.

 

“We are not the master of the earth, but we are its caretakers”, the Bishop said adding that, “Ignoring God’s call to nurture and protect the earth we have taken it to devastation and destruction and we are paying for it.”

 

He stressed upon the 120 lay faithful and nuns who attended the seminar that God created us in His own image so that we can protect the earth and life on it. Now as true Christians it is our responsibility to protect the earth and each and every life on it. The Bishop also asked the faithful suggest actions to be taken to prevent surrogacy and suicides and abortions which are on the rise in Ahmedabad diocese.

 

In the first session of the seminar Father Paresh Parmar, Diocesan Youth Director enumerated the Pope’s Encyclicals containing Social doctrine of the Church. He dwelt upon the topics covered in the encyclicals such as Social justice, workers’ rights, exploitation, option for poor, people’s welfare, unity, participation and environment and dignity of life.

 

During the second session, Sanand Parish Priest and professor of moral theology, Fr. Dr. George Kodithottam, explained the meaning of human dignity and the dignity of labour.  He said man is created in the God’s image; therefore we have to honour the dignity of other fellowman. “God has asked us to sweat to eat bread”, he said adding that; thereby He asked us to honour the dignity of work.  Thusif dignity of man and that of the work are not maintained the exploitation, injustice, unfair labour practice and all the problems against the culture of life would surface and preoccupy us. The root of all tribulations is dishonoring the dignity of the man (and woman), he reiterated.

 

In the beginning Father Joseph Appavoo, Director of the KSSS spelled out the objectives of the seminar followed by lighting of the lamp by the Bishop Thomas Macwan, Fr. Joseph Appavoo, Fr Paresh Parmar.    In the end vote of thanks was proposed by Navin Macwan.  Shailesh Khambhaliya, Project coordinator of the KSSS compeered the whole programme.