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Indian bishops meet priests to sort grievances

Talks take into consideration maintenance, working conditions
Indian bishops meet priests to sort grievances
Bishops and priests after the meeting
Published: February 01, 2011 10:00 AM GMT
Updated: November 29, -0001 04:34 PM GMT

A meeting of bishops and priests in a central Indian state has helped the two groups to understand each other, claims an official of the Conference of Diocesan Priests of India (CDPI). Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal, who heads the Catholic Church in Madhya Pradesh, convened the meeting yesterday to sort out grievances among priests regarding their maintenance and working conditions. CDPI secretary Father John Kulandai, a special invitee to the meeting, said the two groups discussed priests’ suggestion to have a uniform policy for transfer and remuneration for a decent sustenance among other things. Father Kulandai recommended fixing common parameters for the working conditions of priests across the country. “The meeting helped the bishops and the priests to understand each other’s needs,” the Tamil Nadu-based priest told ucanews.com. The bishops have agreed to provide all helps the priests require to discharge their mission work effectively. Although the two groups had discussed the issues earlier, the priests were unhappy as they did not produce satisfactory results. Archbishop Cornelio told the meeting that every bishop is sensitive to their priests’ needs and would do everything to take care of their legitimate needs. “A priest who has got any problem can approach their respective bishop as we are all part of the same family,” the prelate told ucanews.com. He also said bishops would “always be available to their priest to resolve their problems. “No bishop wants their priests to suffer,” he added. Father Dominic Thomas, leader of the priest’s regional forum, said they are happy with the outcome of the meeting. Related reports Bishops face hurdles over priests’ demandsBishops disagree with standard priest pay plan IC13121.1639

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