The CBCI Deputy Secretary General raises the issue of Good Friday’s Conference of Chief Justices of
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India is deeply concerned over the news that the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India has called for a three day Meeting of all the Chief Justices of the States, beginning from Good Friday, 3rd April, 2015.
Good Friday for Christians all over the world is one of the most important days of the year, when the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the redemption of humanity is remembered with devotion. Good Friday is a sacred day for all the people of good will, belonging to all faith and religion, in which the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is remembered.
Though the number of people attending this three day annual meeting of the Chief Justices of the High Courts is minimal, it shatters the centuries old faith that the sacred days of all religions, especially those of the minorities, are also considered sacrosanct by our dear nation.
It is good to recall that the Union Government’s decision to turn the last Christmas Day into Good Governance Day, caused concern and dismay among Christians all over India. It could be rightly said that for Christians, Christmas, Good Friday and Easter are the three most important days, where we remember and recall with gratitude the Birth, the Death and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. For centuries these three days were observed with sanctity and piety by the Christians, and our dear nation upheld and respected the sentiments of Christians. Any move to minimize the importance of these days, either intentionally or unintentionally, hurt the feelings of Christians.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India respectfully requests the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India to take cognizance of the legitimate feelings of Christians in India and to adopt appropriate measures to reassure us that our legitimate religious sentiments be honoured and the sacrosanct character of Good Friday and Christmas Day be upheld.