‘Christians must reach out to other communities’

Inter-religious fellowship across communities is a topic which Pune Bishop, Thomas Dabre, holds close to his heart. In a freewheeling chat with DNA in his office on Thursday afternoon, the erudite bishop stressed the need for Christians to mix and mingle with other communities.

He said, “The ultimate identity of Christianity is to be universal and all-inclusive. A true Christian is the one who reaches out to others.” Ever since Dabre assumed charge of the Roman Catholic church’s Pune Diocese, he has been holding regular inter-religious dialogues and seminars in the city to drive home this point.

The bishop’s seriousness on the issue can be gauged from the fact that he plans to visit the birth place of popular poet-saint, Sant Tukaram, in Dehu early next year and also attend an international inter-religious conference organised by the Vatican in Bangkok (Thailand) in January end.

He told DNA, “The credibility and relevance of Christianity depends on how it reaches out to other cultures and faiths.”

Pointing out the common thread between Shankaracharya’s Advaita philosophy and Christianity, Dabre, who has also read the Bhagwad Gita in Sanskrit said, “The Shankaracharya said god was real and distinct from material things. Christianity also says that god is beyond mere words, forms and symbols. This is the co-relation.”

Following the path shown by Jesus Christ, the bishop said, “The personality of Jesus Christ has always attracted me. He was the most loving, sincere, patient and forgiving person.”

For New Year, Dabre plans to concentrate on poverty alleviation projects. He told DNA, “In the Pune Diocese, the St Vincent de Paul and Pune Diocesan Social Service Centre will undertake several new poverty alleviation projects. There has to be zero tolerance for poverty. Faith and deprivation cannot go together.”

The Bishop of Pune grew up in a modest family in Vasai. His father, Manwel, was the first person to be educated in their community. An honest, upright and hardworking man, Manwel Dabre joined the revenue department of the state government and went on to become a deputy collector.

“My father was a pious and hard working man and we led an austere life. He encouraged me to attend church and be in the company of priests. This is how I found my future calling. My mother too, was extremely hard-working and simple. My parents moulded me,” Bishop Dabre said.