Bishops' body urges Centre to hold debate on civil code

Catholic Bishops' Conference of India on Saturday urged the Centre to hold time-bound discussion with all religious groups in the country on uniform civil code issue.

Stating that the Catholic church has an "open mind" to take part in the debate, the apex bishops' body also said the country's unity should be protected as such.

"Any discussion on the uniform civil code should be held ensuring the religious freedom guaranteed by the constitution," CBCI President Cardinal Baselios Mar Cleemis said in a statement.

"The union government should hold time-bound discussion with all related religious groups in this regard," he said.

The Church can further react on the matter only after getting the draft of the recommendations by the Centre on the Civil Code, he said, adding CBCI would take initiative to hold discussions with the heads of various church denominations in this regard.