Date:10/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/10/stories/2006021004870500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Appoint Kannadiga as Archbishop'

Staff Reporter

An appeal has been made by the Karnataka Catholic Christians' Kannada Sangha

Sangha's statements
Only Konkani-speaking clergy have been appointed heads of dioceses
Kannadiga Christians have been ignored

The prayer session of Sunday's conference should be conducted in Kannada

BANGALORE: The Karnataka Catholic Christians' Kannada Sangha has urged the Vatican Ambassador in New Delhi (Papal Nuncio) and other Church dignitaries who are participating in the weeklong Catholic Bishops' Conference of India here to constitute a commission for appointing a Kannadiga Archbishop for the State.

Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, sangha president J.R. Pereira and general secretary Rafayal Raj told presspersons here on Thursday that only members of the Konkani-speaking clergy from Goa have been appointed heads of the nine dioceses in the State, and Kannadiga Christians have been ignored. Besides, the request to appoint a Kannadiga Archbishop is yet to be accepted, they said.

They urged the religious conference to hold the open prayer session, scheduled for Sunday, in Kannada.