‘Be a law-abiding citizen’

‘Be a law-abiding citizen’

‘Be a law-abiding citizen’

Justice Kurian Joseph, Former Judge of Supreme Court of India addressing the 36th Year Convention of Catholic Association of Nagaland on February 1. (Morung Photo)

 

Catholic Association of Nagaland hosts talk on ‘role of the laity in the church and society’
 

Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 1


Asserting that one of the most important roles of a laity is to be a law-abiding citizen, former judge of Supreme Court of India, Justice Kurian Joseph today urged upon the congregation gathered at the day two of the 36th Year Convention of Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN) to never take pride in breaking the law.


“Be it a small traffic law, using the road or revenue land, be it payment of taxes, be it anything, because law is also a gift of God,” he said while quoting from the Bible to “give to Caesar what is due to Caesar.” 


He was delivering a talk on ‘Role of the laity in the church and society’ at Holy Cross Church, Dimapur. The former judge of Supreme Court who settled a maximum number of 98000 cases as a judge, pointed out that “you are a citizen of a country, a Panchayat or a village” and went on to state that “the whole problem with the society today is we refrain from giving what is due to Caesar and either only give it to God or giving God and not giving what is due to Caesar” in which case, he said neither God or Caesar is happy. 

Newly inducted office bearers of CAN for the tenure 2020-2022 with the Advisory Committee. (Photo Courtesy: CAN)


Reiterating that a Christian must be a model citizen of the country- a disciplined and a responsible citizen, he told the gathering to be a law-abiding citizen, to live and help others live. The mission, he added, is to establish the Kingdom of God in the society. “He is the light and that light is manifested by the good deeds we do and that are when darkness fades and light comes”, he said. 


Impressing upon that there are still many places without light, he said, “Let us go to those places, light a lamp and remove the darkness.”


Further expressing that “I am the church because I constitute an integral part of the church,” he called upon the gathering by saying, “Let us have that proud feeling that I am an integral part of the church and without me, the church is incomplete.” Stating that one's participation in church is important, he asked them to own the church and become a part of the universal church. Stating further that the laity are the soil of the earth in the earth, and the salt and the light of the world and in the world, he said, whether it is one's workplace, home or wherever they are, we are sent to make a proper order in the world (society) and to treat everyone with dignity and respect. 


He said the inner meaning of caring is like the salt, which, unless it melts, will not add to the taste while adding that the shape of the salt disappears but the taste remains. The former judge of Supreme Court of India reemphasized that a faithful in the church is also a faithful citizen of the country while stating that Jesus also recognised this dual status. His session was chaired by Nosazol Charles, former President, CAN. 


Rev Fr Dr AJ Sebastian, SDB who was the guest speaker spoke on “The four Marian Dogmas in the Catholic Church” wherein he highlighted that the four Marian Dogmas are Divine Motherhood, Perpetual Virginity, Immaculate Conception and The Assumption and extensively deliberated on the four dogmas. His talk was chaired by Jonas Yanthan.

 

New team of office bearers elected
A newly elected team of office bearers of Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN) for the tenure 2020-2022 was announced today by Seili Mathew, Convenor, CAN Election Commission during the fourth session of the ongoing 36th Year Convention of CAN at Holy Cross Church Dimapur. 


The new CAN team will be led by Johnny Ruangmei as president, Dr. Azo Loius Kharutso and Vikheto Yeptho as Vice Presidents, Thomas Magh as Secretary General, Moses P. Yimchunger and Thomas Kiutsamong as Secretaries, Sarhunyi Stephen Dukru as Treasurer, Evothung Peter Ezung, Khutovi Vincent Kasho, Bonyi Zholia, Anie Kath and Florete Sekhose as Executive Members. 


In the Advisory Committee are Elias T Lotha, Dr N Simon Dzüvichü, F P Solo, Nosazol Charles and Keneingulie Albert respectively.