Franciscans of India call for mercy to prisoners

www.mangaloretoday.com

Bengaluru, Feb 28, 2016:  “Free a thousand prisoners, detained for minor offenses in Indian jails, granting them a special pardon,"the Indian Franciscans requested the government, hoping for a trace of mercy in Indian society in this Jubilee Year of Mercy.

The initiative was launched by the Association of the Franciscan Families of India (AFFI), a network that combines at a national level more than 50 thousand Franciscans from different religious congregations, male and female, and lay people.

Gathered for their national assembly in Bangalore in recent days, the AFFI representatives reflected on the theme "Being Franciscans: the face of Christ’s mercy in this world".

"Since we are already involved in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, and in the footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, for the Jubilee of Mercy Pope Francis added and renewed a special motivation to the Franciscan mission in India," explained Fr. Nithiya Sagayam OFM Cap, AFFI coordinator.

The Franciscans in India, present with 54 congregations in 164 provinces, are mainly engaged in helping the poor and marginalized through educational and medical institutions, and social works.

Some social works run by the Franciscans already welcome prisoners or former prisoners who have commuted their punishment. Now they have focused attention on the release of prisoners held for petty crimes.

The intention is to start negotiations with the government to get a pardon but also to "guide former detainees and ensure they regain life with dignity and hope", said Fr. Sagayam.