Bishop of Kohima says only dialogue and good will among people can bring about lasting solutions to any problem
\KOHIMA, FEBRUARY 9 (MExN): Bishop of Kohima, Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil has appealed for peace and dialogue among all the communities in Kiphire, Pungro and Shamator.
The Bishop, who attended the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Catholic Women Society of St. Peter’s Church, Kiphire, in his homily on Sunday (February 7) at St. Peter’s Church appealed for peace sensing the emotional built up in the town. He said that the younger generation would suffer due to the “short sightedness and craftiness of vested interest.”
A statement from the Bishops House, Kohima said that the Catholic Church is disturbed by the worsening situation in the towns of Kiphire, Pungro and Shamator and hoped that good sense prevails among the public. The Bishop asked all leaders to shun violence and denounce each and every perpetuator of violence. “Violence has no place in a civilized society and especially among us who are Christians. We must learn to separate incidents of violence and judge them objectively. Violence is not a lasting solution to any of our problem. Only dialogue and good will among people can bring about lasting solutions to any problem,” he stated.
He expressed sadness that while Nagas are trying to stand united and bring about a lasting solution to their common problem, “we allow ourselves to be led by emotional charge and petty fragmentation.” “Non-violence and forgiveness is weapon of the strong while violence in reality is weapon of the weak,” he added.
Stating that “violence anywhere is a threat to peace everywhere,” the Bishop called upon the people of Nagaland to remember the words of Martin Luther King, who said these words in his famous speech, ‘I have a dream’: “Yes, I have a dream today. There will be serious obstacles to overcome. We have mountains of fear and anger and hatred to remove. There are hilltops of doubt, of despair, of hopelessness to be leveled. The rough places in our hearts that keep us from apologizing, from loving unconditionally and from forgiving must be made plain. But with God’s help and guidance, with the faith that the dark past has taught us and the hope that the present has brought us and armed with the power of love, we shall get there.”
He also appealed and instructed the Catholic institutions in Kiphire, Pungro and Shamator to render all possible assistance to mitigate “human suffering” and also assist in whichever way possible to help the students write their classes X, XI and XII examinations.
The Bishop further expressed sympathy for the children “who are losing their future, for no fault of their own.” He prayed especially for the four children who became orphans suddenly, the eldest of whom is about to write the class X examination this year.
