In a country like ours, which is badly divided on religious and caste lines, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao’s call to priests and laity on World Migrant Day, to make the church and society more inclusive, assumes great importance, especially in these days of religious persecution that has forced thousands to flee their country and seek refuge in safe havens like India and other Western countries.
The appeal is based on the church’s belief and teachings that all humans are born equal, with equal rights and dignity before God.
The socio-religious structures in Jesus’ time consisted of social, religious, cultural and economic barriers which Jesus Christ broke down by showing his love and compassion for the poor, sinners, downtrodden, social outcasts and untouchables of society, that brought about a drastic social transformation.
Later, it was St Paul who preached the same gospel of freedom and equality to the Galatians that taught there was “no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, but all one in Christ Jesus”.
The real challenge therefore before us today in this all embracing and inclusive vision, is to be able to live happily as one large family.
