Church proposes interfaith counseling for mariners

Chennai – Two prominent Christian leaders, viz., A.M. Chinnappa, archbishop of the Madras–Mylapore archdiocese and Joshua Mar Ignatius, auxillary bishop of Trivandrum, have called for an "interfaith counseling mechanism" to be set up for the mental and moral welfare of mariners.

While addressing a four–day International Committee for Seafarers' Welfare meet and seminar in Chennai, Bishop Ignatius pointed out that every seafarer needed time for counseling and someone to speak to after spending months traveling at sea.

"A strengthening message is more satisfying than all the money that an employer pays. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, all seafarers need to fulfill their spiritual needs," Archbishop Chinnappa concurred.

"Although our chaplains are trained to counsel seafarers of all faiths, it is time that leaders of other faiths come forward to coordinate an interfaith counseling mechanism," he added, urging the government and port authorities to make "inter–religious access" possible for all visiting seafarers.

India contributes 40,000 officers and 70,000 ratings to the shipping industry worldwide. The church has placed chaplains to counsel seafarers at 12 ports in India and one port each in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.