6IVE VISAS TO
MISSIONARIES
New Indian rule
Little surprise has been caused among missionaries in Britain by the news from Delhi that the Indian Government has urged Mgr. Thomas Pothacamury, Bishop of Bangalore, to grant all future visas to missionary priests entering that country. Bishop Pothacamury is Secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India.
Up to the present the visa procedure was handled in London by the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, although it is understood that the practice lapsed some months ago.
A priest belonging to a missionary society commented : " As far as I know this is a consequence of the gradual hand-over of powers and privileges that has been going on since India became an independent nation."
Bishop Pothacaneury has now
been emp en owered to op register of all societies and individual missionaries seeking entry-visas.
Twenty-nine of these permits have been sanctioned in the past year, while a further 79 have still to be disposed.