Close on the heels of a statement of Pope Francis that the church is open to debating homosexuality, begins a three-day symposium that looks to discuss issues that have long been considered as foundational to the Church. These include anaesthesia, surrogacy, test tube babies among others.
The three-day symposium called "National Symposium on Protecting, Preserving and Promoting the Gift of Human Life: Emerging Challenges" will begin today and end on October 19. It is being organised by the Catholic Conference of Bishops of India (CCBI) Commission for Theology and Doctrine. It will be conducted at the Goregaon-based seminary of the Catholic Church. The symposium will have the Archbishop of Bombay, Oswald Cardinal Gracias, bishops from across India, doctors and members of different communities participating.
"In view of the recent SC judgment on euthanasia and lot of other issues, we thought of having this symposium. We want to create an awareness on the gift of life in society. Life is precious, it needs to be preserved, protected and promoted. We are doing this across religion and culture. We are hoping to get a respect for society and care of people from womb to tomb. It is an invitation to people so that they can come and talk to us about it," said Fr. Stephen Fernandes, professor of ethics and moral theology and director of International Federation of Catholic Medical Association bio-medical ethic center that is conducting the symposium.
"I am thinking of going there to see what the Church feels about these issues and if they are open to them. It is an open discussion. Views of them will be good to hear. They have just come back from summit and if they discuss something about the summit and the issue on families, that too will be helpful," said Judith Monteiro, one of the members who is to attend the symposium.
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