THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Catholic Church is on a wait-and-watch mode towards the RSS' plans to float a new Christian outfit on the lines of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, which it had formed over a decade ago.
This became clear when Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) said here on Thursday that he was yet to be convinced about the new outfit's actual objectives.
Last month, the RSS had initiated talks with several archbishops and bishops to start a Christian body named Rashtriya Isai Manch (RIM).
Though the RIM has a stated objective of improving communal harmony with Christians, Cardinal Cleemis said, "I don't believe that the RSS has changed. However, I am not of the opinion that any organisation cannot change positively in future. This so-called change has to be evident in their actions, not just in statements," Cardinal Cleemis said on the sidelines of a press conference.
The RSS leadership had on December 17 announced its plans about forming the RIM. A day later, the BJP appointed Kummanam Rajasekharan as its state president in Kerala.
Interestingly, one of the first meetings he held after taking over was with Cardinal Cleemis.
The CBCI, which adopts many common policies for the Catholic Church in India, has often differed with the RSS and also held dialogues with it.
Last year, the CBCI rapped RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as he alleged that conversion was the main objective of Mother Teresa's social work.
The CBCI and the RSS often engage in discussions on issues like forcible conversion and attack on churches.
