By Matters India Reporter

Sambalpur: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) plans to hold a seminar on “CBCI policy for the empowerment of Dalit Christians: an ethical imperative” in Odisha, eastern India.

The CBCI Office for Scheduled Castes/Backward Classes is the main organizer of the Nov 27-29 seminar at Khristo Jyoti Mohavidyaloyo (KJM, Light of Christ university), a regional major theology seminary for Odisha.

KJM is located on the outskirts of Sambalpur, a major town in Odisha.

Besides the seminary, the Odisha Forum for Social Action, Bhubaneswar, and Regional Commission for Vocations, Seminaries, Clergy and Religious (VSCR) will also collaborate with the program, KJM rector Divine Word Father Francis Pereira told Matters India.

“On the final day of the seminar we have planned a session for action plan along with the bishops and major superiors of various religious orders who would attend the seminar,” Father Pereira said.

The main resource person is Bishop Neethinathan Anthonisamy of Chingleput, Tamil Nadu, who is the chairman of the CBCI Office. Its secretary Father Z. Devasagayaraj, Jesuit Father Selvaraj Arulnathan, director, Indian Social Institute, Bengaluru, and Presentation Sister Shenha Gill, member of Delhi Minority Commission, will also address the seminar..

As many as 124 people have signed up for the program. They include bishops, social workers, major superiors, school principals, seminary rectors and teachers, education secretaries of Odisha’s six Catholic dioceses, parish priests and women in charge commission.