Kerala Region
Latin Catholic Council

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History​

Kerala Region Latin Catholic Council (KRLCC) is the apex body of the Latin Catholics in Kerala. It was on May 24th 2002 the Latin Catholic Bishops’ Council after wide consultation inaugurated ‘Kerala Region Latin Catholic Council’ – KRLCC a larger complimentary body to make the functioning of the Latin Church in Kerala. This body ensures the cooperation and participation of all sections of the Latin Church within the region for preservation, propagation and enrichment of the Catholic faith.

KRLCC operates to plan, coordinate and monitor collective pastoral action of the community. It will lead the efforts for the modulation of the socio cultural life of the community in tune with the moral principles of the universal Church. KRLCC has organized systems to conduct scientific studies on the various problems affecting the community and to coordinate and guide the movements for the emancipation of the Community and to impart training and formation to the priests and laity in view of a common venture for the integral development of the Latin Catholic community.

 

All the Bishops and Vicars General of the Latin dioceses, the heads of the religious congregations and the representative of priests and laity from all Latin dioceses and leaders of Lay Associations are members of the KRLCC.
 
KRLCC leads the efforts for the modulation of the socio cultural life of the community in tune with the moral principles of the universal Church.  KRLCC has organized systems to conduct scientific studies on the various problems affecting the community and to coordinate and guide the movements for the emancipation of the Community and to impart training and formation to the priests and laity in view of a common venture for the integral development of the Latin Catholic community.
 
KRLCC consists of all the Bishops of the Latin Church of Kerala, all the Vicars Generals, the representatives of priests from the priests councils of all the Latin Dioceses, four lay representatives (two men and two women) from the pastoral councils of all the dioceses, the representatives of religious, representatives of the State level office bearers of the Lay Associations of the Latin Church, and 10 members nominated by the Bishops’ Council, has a general body of 197 members and an executive of 70 members. The General Body assembles two times a year (in January and July) to discuss various matters pertaining to the Church and the community and frame policies with the approval of the Bishops’ Council. The Executive council gathers a minimum of four times a year. The council operates through various commissions established by the Bishops’ Council (There are 24 commissions at present). In short KRLCC functions as a ‘regional pastoral council’, coordinating and strengthening all the dioceses and the diocesan pastoral councils of the Latin Church in Kerala Region. 
 
 
The twenty lakhs strong Latin Catholic Community in Kerala is on the path of Socio-economic and Political progress.  The community has contributed very much in the fields of education, social welfare, health and especially for the progress of the poor and the marginalized.  However comparing to our contributions to the civil society, the Latin Community has not received its due share in the political and administrative sectors in Kerala. 
 
KRLCC could present a Charter of demands of the Latin Community to the Central and State Governments for immediate consideration to ensure social and political justice to the community. Two “Mahasangamams” (mammoth peoples rally for rights) were organized by KRLCC, on 27 February 2011 and 28th February 2014, wherein over one lakh people each participated from all the dioceses.  The community organizations take up socio political issues affecting the people and lead peaceful agitations and strikes. Lay leadership promotion is one of the key areas KRLCC is focusing. Preparing the Laity to actively participate in the Church and in the society is the priority.