Catholic Council of India discuss women’s empowerment

The 19th meeting of the Catholic Council of India general body, attended by over 300 delegates, discussed the theme 'Empowerment of Women in the Church and Society'.

The meeting was inaugurated by Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, president of the CCI, and among those who attended the meeting was Union labour minister Oscar Fernandes and Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda.

ICNS quoted Cardinal Toppo saying, "No one on this earth has shown respect, love and concern for women more than Jesus of Nazareth. And this inspiration has resulted in his followers still struggling to fight gender inequality, exploitation of the weaker sex, trafficking of women and girls and female feticide."

While the Union labour minister Oscar Fernandes promised the government was preparing on a new law that would demand accountability from every panchayat of this country for the education of every child including girls, State chief minister Madhu Koda assures the gathering that his government “will try to implement any concrete suggestions made by the CCI during these days for the betterment of women.”

Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana said, the Gospel vision regarding women was an ever relevant message which goes back to the attitude of Jesus Christ himself. The nuncio said, “If this Gospel vision regarding women is our norm and our goal, it is time to ask ourselves how much of this vision has been seen, heard and acted upon by us.”