Ranchi – The Church leaders of Jharkhand have appealed to the mainstream media to help highlight the Church's "real image" in their eastern Indian state and assist them in their social work.

In a two-day workshop on “social communication” conducted in Ranchi recently, the bishops of all eight Catholic dioceses in Jharkhand agreed unanimously to seek media cooperation in all their social activities. They all agreed that for a long time the Church has failed to use the media properly to highlight its views on social issues.

After studying the effectiveness of the media, the bishops decided to partner with them in publicising Church activities.

"During the workshop we felt the need to get help from mainstream media in Jharkhand to fight social evils and serve people more effectively," Cardinal Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi (also the president of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India) told media personnel afterward. The press meeting drew about 20 representatives from print and electronic media in the state.

Ranchi is regarded as the nerve centre of the vibrant tribal Church in eastern India. Last year, Cardinal Toppo became the first Asian tribal cardinal. In January 2004 he was elected president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI).

Right-wing Hindu groups have cited his rise to prominence in charging that the Church's main objective in Jharkhand is to convert tribals, and that its social work and services are only steps toward that goal.

Asked why the Church has not established its own media network, Cardinal Toppo said the Church in Jharkhand does not want to create an alternative network that might become sectarian. It does not intend to work as a separate group but wants "to go with all people without discrimination," he said. "We put our trust in the mainstream media and intend to associate with it fully."

The Church in Jharkhand already appear more in local media than its counterparts in other states, the cardinal noted, attributing this to "better understanding and good relations between the Church and the media."

However, Jesuit Bishop Charles Soreng of Hazaribag, regional bishops' council chairperson, admitted the Church has failed to brief the media about its activities.

"In this age of information, one cannot remain in isolation. It is the media that can crystallise the activities of all organisations, including those of the Church," said Bishop Soreng, who chaired the press meeting.

He held mass media responsible for "the mindless degradation of Indian values" but he added that the Church plans to combat this trend with help from "positive" media organisations. Media vigilance on social, political and economic fronts is laudable, the bishop said, and the Church will join that "noble pursuit."

Some of the media people present assured the Church leaders that they would highlight the Church's activities and fight against social evils. Some media people noted that the Church had not previously sought help from the media but now that the Church is coming forward to ask for help and cooperation, the media could not but help support such "good work" and link with Church activities in serving the state’s people.

Cardinal Toppo, later, expressed his appreciation of the "the good response" from the media, for which, he said, he has "deep respect."

All Church activities are open to all, he explained, but "if we get the help of mainstream media, we will reach all sections of the people more effectively." The Church wants the media to disseminate the "real image" of the Church to the people, he added.

Father Henry D' Souza, secretary of the CBCI Commission for Social Communication, conducted the workshop. Lauding media awareness among the Church leaders, he said the bishops "understood that mainstream media could be the most effective means for the Church to reach the people."

The communications official agreed that the Church in Jharkhand is closer to the mainstream media than in other states, and he added that he appreciates the media coverage the Church receives in Jharkhand.

A new culture of communication is sweeping the world, Father D'Souza said, declaring that the time has come to end one-way communication and begin interactive communication. "The whole world is becoming a global village, why should the Church be left behind?" he inquired.




Surojit Chatterjee
Ecumenical Press