Father Devadas, coordinator of the Asian Conference of the Continental Phase of the World Bishops’ Conference, told this news website: Religious dialogue, the poor and extremism are the three main points on which the Asian Churches have paid attention in the process of Episcopal Conference so far.
(Vatican News Network)The Synod Secretariat met in Rome on 28 and 29 November with the leaders of the Regional Assemblies of the continental phases of the Synod. Clarence Devadass, coordinator of the Asia Conference and director of the Center for Catholic Studies in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, introduced the current situation in Asia to the conference and told this news site about the current experience of fellow travelers in the continent.
Devadas said: “I bring our unique experience: we in Asia held a congress in Bangkok in October this year, with the participation of the Catholic Church of all Asia, 226 participants from 29 countries. We put this moment live as a process of communion and to bring the enthusiasm and hope of the people here to the Vatican”.
The coordinator of the Asian Congress of the Continental Phase of the Synod recalled that the Continental Congress will be held at the end of February next year. Regarding the characteristics of the Church in Asia, Father Devadas explained: “The characteristics of Asia are that the religions and cultures of the countries are very different. Another element is that the number of Christians is very small. With the exception of the Philippines and East Timor, we have minorities there. Therefore, we must understand as Christians and the Church in Asia how to live in harmony with each other, with other religions and cultures”.
“For us the priority is dialogue with others, then care for the poor and the realities of religious and ideological extremism – said Fr. Devadas – For our small local Church it is a bit difficult. , helping the poor and immigrants and religious extremism are three things our churches in Asia talk about trying to understand how we Christians can behave in a situation like this, how we can live our lives every day according to what we believe in, according to what Jesus Christ requires of us”.
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