HT Correspondent
ITANAGAR, Sept 21: The Arunachal Pradesh Catholic Association (APCA) participated in the two-day All India Catholic Union (AICU) national meeting held at Mangalore, Karnataka, on September 19 and 20.
APCA Secretary General Michi Chalo informed that the 71st Annual General Body Meeting of AICU was inaugurated by Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U T Khadar as Chief Guest and blessed by Most Rev Rt Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore.
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More than 200 working committee members from across the country attended. From Arunachal Pradesh, APCA president Nabam Pekhi, secretary general Michi Challo, finance secretary Er Takam Majeng, and national coordinator for the Northeast region Taw Tebin participated.
The chief guest lauded the Christian community for maintaining peace and harmony and called for unity with all other communities.
A symposium on interfaith relations was held on the theme “Compassion Beyond Boundaries” with speakers Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha, Prof Rajaram Tolpadi (Hindu), and writer Fatima Ralia (Muslim), who reflected on the humanitarian service of St Mother Teresa.
On the second day, Ivan D’Souza, Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council and Chief Guest, spoke about the need to build strong political leadership within the Christian community.
The General Body Meeting resolved to intervene in the implementation of the Freedom of Religion Act in various states and decided to organise a National Christian Convention on atrocities against the Christian community, both in New Delhi and across the states. Michi Challo presented the APCA activity report and highlighted the state’s burning issue of APFRA, suggesting key points for discussion in upcoming AICU meetings.
