Cardinal Turkson: India's economic growth also needs spiritual values

"For there to be a real human development, economic growth alone is not enough: people need spiritual values."

So said Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, in his speech at the General Conference of Catholic Bishops (1-8 February). 

The theme of the meeting, held in Bangalore, was "the Role of the Church for a Better India."

"Although India has become the fourth largest economy in the world", said the prelate, "the country has a long way to go. The Human Development Index statistics show that the benefits of liberalization affect only 25% of the population, while the remaining 75% still live on 2 rupees a day." 

Furthermore, he explained, "there are signs of discontent among the population. The reasons are varied and among them is the failure of states to fulfill the promise of equality and justice for all segments of society."

According to the cardinal, it is in this context that we must examine the role of the Church to improve India, because "it is spiritual disease that generates inequality and injustice." 

Therefore, he continued, "the Christian vision must be adopted, which places human beings at the center. Only this can bring about an overall development of society. Establishing the Christian values of love and service towards others is the way forward for social development in India".

Concluding his speech, Cardinal Turkson said that "we must find new ways to build the Kingdom of God in India."