Akhila Karnataka Catholic Christara Kannada Sangha conducted a gathering here on Sunday to demand for a regional seminary in Karnataka.
Stating that their demand for a seminary has been there for over 30 years, Fr. Chasara said while most states have their own seminary, Karnataka is the only south Indian state that does not have a seminary.
Prashanth Ignatius, a member of the Sangha said, “Actions towards this cause has been minimal. To spread our faith we need to use the regional language.”
Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha leader and former MLA Vatal Nagaraj said that the Karnataka government is not doing enough to promote the Kannada language. Mr. Nagaraj said efforts by him and several Kannada Christians to have a regional seminary for many years have not yielded any results. Fr.Chasara said “We are not against any community but we our fighting for our rights.”
Mr Ignatius said, “We [The Kannada Christian community] have still not progressed because people have not given us what they had promised.”
Some of their demands include that the Chief Minister should write a letter to the Pope demanding to establish Kannada as the language in which to preach in the seminary, to increase funds for Karnataka Chirstian’s development from existing 50 crore to 100 crore. Their other demands include appointing a Kannada speaking bishop for Karnataka.
