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CATHOLIC BISHOPS´ CONFERENCE OF PAKISTAN MEETS, RE-ELECTS OFFICERS

Updated: April 25, 1989 05:00 PM GMT
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The Catholic Bishops´ Conference of Pakistan (CBCP), meeting in Lahore March 30-April 1, re-elected incumbent officers to three-year terms and discussed plans for the coming year.

Cardinal Joseph Cordeiro of Karachi remains president; Bishop Armando Trinidade of Lahore, vice president; and Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Lobo of Karachi, secretary.

The meeting was also attended by Bishops Bonaventure Paul of Hyderabad, Simeon Pereira of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, John Joseph of Faisalabad and Patras Yusuf of Multan.

Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Coutts of Hyderabad and retired Bishops Bertrand Boland of Multan and Paul Andreotti of Faisalabad also participated as bishops gave the following reports:

-- Bishop Pereira reported that work on the Urdu-language Roman Missal is proceeding, and revision will be completed after new prayers are added.

-- Bishop Trinidade suggested that World Communication Day be used to promote Radio Veritas in each diocese. A seminar for Religious superiors and bishops on social communications will be held in November.

The importance of diocesan examinations in Christian doctrine was stressed to implement new catechism books prepared by the Catechetical Commission.

-- Bishop Joseph has filed a case for introducing Christian doctrine for Christian students in government schools.

Catechetical Sunday will be celebrated in September to recognize the apostolate of catechists, religion teachers and the family.

-- Bishop Yusuf said diocesan animation was effective in conscientizing people, noting those working in the flood relief program in October 1988.

-- Bishop Joseph, Youth Commission chairman, reported an increase in youth activities and increased coordination of these activities nationally.

The activities included rallies, conferences, summer camps and, every two years, an animators´ course.

-- Bishop Joseph, also Interfaith Dialogue Commission chairman, said the commission coordinates and helps focus such activities in all dioceses.

-- Bishop Joseph, Justice and Peace Commission chairman, emphasized the policy of the commission to use local means and efforts to solve problems.

He said cooperatives should be set up to prevent Christians from having to sell their land. Christians displaced from one area need to be rehabilitated in other regions.

The bishops noted that many establishments use names of Catholic saints or institutions run by bishops or religious, leading the public to think they are run by the Catholic Church.

They also said some small Christian denominations were using words like "bishop" and even "archbishop" wrongly, for personal gain or aggrandizement.

-- The present version of the Urdu Catholic Bible, first published in 1958, will be reprinted for the last time. The new Urdu Bible should be ready in 1990.

-- Bishops will consult with Church health workers to balance institutional work and non-formal programs for primary health care and community health. The role of Caritas Pakistan in this apostolate will then be spelt out.

A standing committee for quick communication and response to needs on a national level was appointed, consisting of Bishops Trinidade, Pereira, Joseph and Lobo.

Other commissions were allocated as follows:

Major Seminary: retired Bishop Paul Andreotti of Faisalabad, chairman; Auxiliary Bishop Couts and Bishop Patras Yusuf. Social Communications: Bishop Trinidade. Urdu Literature: Bishop Trinidade.

Muslim Christian Dialogue: Bishop Joseph. Youth Commission: Bishop Joseph, chairman; Bishop Coutts. Caritas Pakistan: Bishop Patras. Health Commission: Bishop Patras. Education: Bishop Lobo. Liturgy: Bishop Pereira.

Catechetics and Biblical Apostolate: Bishop Boland. Family Life: Bishop Andreotti. Justice and Peace Commission: Bishop Joseph. Liaison with Religious: Cardinal Cordeiro, Bishop Boland, Bishop Lobo.

Liaison with charismatics: Bishop Coutts. Ongoing formation of clergy: Bishop Joseph. Revision of Urdu Catholic Bibles: Bishop Lobo.

END

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