Lack of courage, patience among youth disturbs spiritual leader

BANGALORE: "The sanctity of peace and serenity is slowly disappearing in Bangalore in recent years. I am particularly disturbed that crime and deaths among youth and young couples is increasing in the city. They don't seem prepared to face challenges in life. They are giving in too easily. This is not a good sign. This is not a good example for youth.It is a bit depressing. This character of Bangalore has to change," is Bangalore Archbishop Bernard Moras' message for Christmas.
Moras, archbishop of the city for the past seven years, is clued into everyday happenings in the city. "I read about the NRI youth who jumped from the 14th floor and took his life. From what I read, he was well-placed and his family was doing well. Moreover he was an NRI. What message does his act send to youth in Bangalore? Would it not depress them? He may not have been well, there's talk of depression, but the problem is more fundamental among youngsters in the city."
Moras, who begins his day scanning the newspapers, says he's beginning to see a generation of youngsters who are short on courage. "People want to come up fast and when they are unable to, they give in fast. There are young couples in Bangalore who hold good jobs, have good salaries, a comfortable life. But they give in to depression and other issues. Giving in is the dominant trait I've seen in the past six to seven years in Bangalore. I always tell the youth to face challenges and struggles of life head-on, to take on life with courage and strength. Counselling alone won't help. What youth need is internal spiritual strength. That will automatically build internal courage. Be spiritually and morally strong and you'll see things changing, you'll see people bolder."
The archbishop, who did his schooling and college at St Aloysius, Mangalore, then at Karnatak University, Dharwad, and priestly studies at St Joseph's Seminary, Mangalore, says he would like people to exercise self-control. "If you don't live a life accustomed to struggle, if you don't come up against struggle at all, you'll never grow, you'll never exercise control on yourself. When you learn to handle struggles, you learn to exercise control on yourself. That's when you don't give in. I want to tell everyone that it's not right to take your life, instead share your struggles, seek help and fight to overcome them. You will then be an inspiration to people around you."
Moras, who says understanding life is one of his endeavours, was first ordained priesthood at the Mangalore diocese in 1967. He moved to Delhi and then came to Bangalore, where in 1980 he began working as administrator of St John's Medical College Hospital. He did so for nearly 11 years. He then worked as director of Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangalore. In 1996, he was appointed Bishop of Belgaum, following which he was deputed as Archbishop of Bangalore in 2004.
The spiritual head spends his time daily reading on the church, spirituality and theology and coordinating the activities of 13 diocese in Karnataka. "My basic work is to understand life and people around me and I, therefore, interact a lot with people. Living in this otherwise wonderful city, gifted with great weather, good educational and employment resources, a good economy, affectionate people, I ask myself, with all this, why do some people give up on their life? My constant refrain to youth is: don't give in to passing pleasures and success, instead build within yourself a strong educational, moral and spiritual core, be grounded and self-confidence will grow in you. Tell yourself 'I can lead a good life and be an example to others, I will not take the easiest way out'."
The archbishop also advocates a strong and united fight against corruption. "It is not that I support this or that individual. I am with anyone who fights corruption. I believe we have to start with ourselves. Only when we don't respect moral and ethical values, do we resort to cheating, bribing and other corrupt practices. So I'd suggest a strong movement to build an ethical value system which will cleanse the corruption in our hearts and minds, and ultimately, in the system."
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Favourite books: On church, spirituality and theology
Favourite food: Everybody likes fish, so do I. But I have simple food everyday - ragi in the morning and chappatis for lunch and dinner
Birthday: August 10, 1941
Goal of life: To create goodwill, foster peace and harmony