Gujarat Christian body for toned down Christmas

Ahmedabad, Dec 16 (IANS) In view of the Mumbai carnage and violence against Christians in various parts of India, the Gujarat United Christians Forum for Human Rights (GUCFHR) Tuesday announced it has been decided that Christmas will be celebrated without ostentation this year.

GUCFHR convener Cedric Prakash said the decision was taken by the bishops and elders of various churches at a meeting of GUCFHR held at Bishop's House here Monday, and they have appealed to the community and its institutions to avoid any ostentation while celebrating the festival this year.

'Christmas will always remain a joyful event because we celebrate God's coming to live among us as a human being; but, in solidarity with those affected by the terrorist attacks and the painful events in Orissa and in other parts of our country, we request that the external manifestation of our joy be subdued,' Prakash said.

'We recommend that the money saved thereby be utilised to alleviate human suffering,' he added.

'Christmas expresses our belief that God takes on a human face. The feast thus challenges us to find God in every human being irrespective of caste, creed and colour. It is an occasion for us to take concrete steps to promote communal harmony. We wish all our fellow-citizens 'A Joyful and Peace-filled Christmas',' he said.

Those who participated at the deliberations of GUCFHR were Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes SJ, Bishop Vinod Malaviya, Bishop Godfrey de Rosario SJ and Bishop Thomas Macwan, among others.