By Matters India Reporter
Mumbai: The Archdiocese of Bombay will organize peace gatherings at six places on May 1 to express solidarity with women, children and victims of injustice.
The participants of the program titled ‘Because We Care’ will pledge to uphold women’s dignity and respect. They will also sign a memorandum to submit to authorities asking for justice and speedy redress, said Father Nigel Barrett, spokesman of the archdiocese that covers Mumbai, India’s commercial capital.
The memorandum will also demand sensitization through educational program to eradicate gender bias, the priest added.
The one-hour program will be held at 6 pm at St Michael’s Church, Mahim, St Francis Xavier’s Church in Vile Parle, St Francis of Assisi School in Borivli, Our Lady of Nazareth School in Bhayander, Holy Cross Church of Kurla and Sacred Heart school, Vashi.
Earlier on April 13, the archdiocese came out in support of the rape victims of Kathua in Jammu and Unnao in Uttar Pradesh. Various parishes launched protests demanding swift and stern action against the criminals.
A archdiocesan statement summarized the anger and disappointment of the Church at the state of affairs in the country.
Father Barrett then urged the laity to speak up. “Evil exists and perpetuates because good people are silent,” he said. “We hope to awake the collective conscience of the community and the nation and say this is not the India we love. We don’t want well-crafted advertising statements or campaigns but action on the ground that provides for a safe India.”
On April 17, Auxiliary Bishop Allwyn D’Silva of Bombay organized a rally and a signature campaign at St John the Baptist Church, Thane.
Fr Warner D’Souza, the parish priest of St Jude Church in Malad East, urged parishioners to wear black outfits to weekend Mass. “This is the least we can do. In another country the Kathua incident would be treated like a war crime. The situation in our country has reached breaking point,” the priest said and invited parishioners to speak on gender discrimination.
Fr Felix D’Souza of St Anthony’s Church in Vakola, led parishioners in observing one-minute silence at all Masses on April 14 and 15 “to symbolize the solidarity of a nation in mourning”. “We will raise three slogans — we protest, we demand justice and may God protect our country,” he said.