Cardinal Gracias urges Catholics to vote for values inherent in Indian Constitution
MUMBAI: Archbishop of Bombay, Oswald Cardinal Gracias, on Tuesday, urged the Catholic community to “vote wisely” on May 20. He urged them to select a clean candidate who will “help the country become one large family”. He prayed that the legislature, judiciary, and media uphold truth, justice, and harmony — values inherent in the Indian Constitution.
The Cardinal, in his video message, urged parishes to pray a special Novena from May 11 to 20. It was this prayer that was later posted on the archdiocese’s website, indicating the Church’s clear vision for the General Election 2024.
The Novena read, “O God of freedom and love, let your light of truth shine on our nation, dispelling all darkness and untruth. Let the dreams of our founding fathers and the values of our Constitution — equality, liberty, and fraternity — be always held in highest esteem.”
“Let people of all castes and creeds live in harmony and peace, steering far away from hatred and violence. Protect our legislatures as places of discerning minds. Raise our judiciary as the hallmark of integrity, prudence, and justice. Keep our print, visual, and social media as channels of truth for edifying discourses. Protect our institutions from the infiltration of evil forces.”
The Cardinal’s prayer continued, “Let the poor of our country be provided with the means of livelihood. Let Dalits, tribals, and the marginalized be brought into the mainstream of nation-building. May the ethos of true democracy envelop our elections with dignity, and the flames of honest patriotism enkindle our political leaders.”
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