Assam: Catholic Bishop's Conference issues guidelines for religious inclusivity in schools, Hindu group welcomes

Guwahati: In a significant development, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) issued directives on Thursday to all Christian missionary schools in the country.

The guidelines emphasize respect for all faiths and traditions, ensuring students of other religions are not pressured to participate in Christian practices. The move has been welcomed by a Hindu group in Assam.

The CBCI, the leading decision-making body for India's Catholic community, oversees a vast network of educational institutions nationwide, including 14,000 schools, 650 colleges, and several universities.

The CBCI's Office for Education and Culture outlined new guidelines, including allowing students to recite the Preamble to the Constitution during morning assemblies and establishing "inter-religious prayer rooms" on school premises.

These guidelines follow demands from some Hindu groups to remove Christian symbols and churches from missionary schools, which they view as promoting "exclusive religious education."

The CBCI's directives aim to address "emerging challenges" arising from the current social, cultural, religious, and political climate in India.

The 13-page document follows the 36th General Body Meeting of the CBCI held in January this year, where a central theme was the Church's response to the country's socio-political situation.

The Kutumba Surakshya Parishad (KSP), a Hindu group in Assam, which had previously issued a 15-day ultimatum to Christian missionary schools demanding the removal of Christian symbols and religious attire worn by priests and nuns, has welcomed the CBCI's decision.

In a statement on Thursday, KSP president Satya Ranjan Borah expressed appreciation for the Catholic Bishop's Conference of India's restrictions on exclusive Christian practices within educational institutions. He identified three key takeaways from the CBCI's decision.

Firstly, Borah highlighted that the decision addresses concerns regarding ongoing exclusive religious practices in schools.

Secondly, he viewed it as a positive response to the KSP's concerns. Finally, he identified the CBCI as the appropriate authority for further communication on ensuring well-rounded national development.

"We have no problem with Christianity. However, they must cease exclusive religious practices within educational institutions," Borah said.

Borah advocated for a complete separation of religion and education in schools to uphold India's constitutional values.

Borah concluded by appealing to the CBCI to comply with Article 51(A) of the Indian Constitution and contribute to India's global image by promoting "true Knowledge of India" as outlined in the New Education Policy.