Thiruvananthapuram: Amid growing political instability and uncertainty in the country, the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) has called upon Christian youth to actively participate in mainstream politics. The Council emphasized that this is not a time for those with leadership qualities and deep-rooted Christian values to retreat from public life but rather to recognize their responsibility in shaping the nation’s future.
Describing the current political landscape as “extremely chaotic and confusing,” KCBC pointed out that detachment or silence from politically aware and morally grounded individuals would only widen the existing void in principled leadership. The Council observed that a new wave of young people practical, competent, and politically aware are entering the mainstream. In such a moment, it warned that if church-minded youth remain passive observers, the broader society, including the Christian community, will be deprived of a vital moral and intellectual voice.
KCBC has therefore urged Catholic youth organizations to take up the mission of identifying and nurturing young leaders from the faith community who possess vision, values, and a commitment to public service. According to the Council, it is not enough for Christian youth to limit their involvement to religious institutions or social activities. Instead, they should be equipped and encouraged to step into civic spaces and the political arena, driven by their conscience and guided by their faith.
The bishops stressed that this participation should not be for selfish gain or factional alignment but as a true calling a vocation to serve society with integrity and compassion. Youth who are qualified and capable must recognize that political engagement today is not a luxury or optional endeavor, but a critical need, both for the welfare of the country and the future of Christian values in public discourse.
KCBC’s statement acts as both a challenge and an invitation to awaken a generation to a greater purpose. It is a clarion call to Catholic youth to understand that democracy thrives not only through votes but through the vigilant and value-driven presence of leaders who are willing to stand for truth, justice, and the common good.