Chennai: Dalit Christian bodies in Tamil Nadu have reiterated their demand for appointing priests from the communities to the posts to bishops in the southern Indian state.
The office of bishops in five dioceses and one archdiocese now lies vacant in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry; point out groups such as Dalit Christian Liberation Movement (DCLM).
The groups made their demand during a virtual meeting on October 7 with the president of the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council and Archbishop of Madurai Antony Pappusamy.
The Dalit groups pointed out the lack of representation of Dalits in the hierarchy, particularly among bishops. DCLM president M. Mary John said although Dalits form more than 50 percent of the Catholic population in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, only among the 18 dioceses of the Latin Catholic rite in Tamil Nadu has a Dalit as bishop.
Arguing that the first appointment of a Dalit as bishop happened only in 1993, to the Vellore diocese after considerable pressure from Dalit Christian movements, John said three more were appointed and one was elevated as archbishop in the next 12 years.
“However, even this marginal progress towards equitable representation has been reversed in the last 15 years as there has not been even a single Dalit among at least eight bishops and archbishops appointed during the period,” John bemoans.
He said the situation was similar across the country. Although Dalits are a majority among Catholics in India, only 11 of the roughly 170 bishops are Dalits, he said. The organizations want Dalits appointed to all five vacancies in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. They appealed the TNBC president to take up the issue with the Apostolic Nunciature to India and Rome.
“We are only asking for the implementation of what has been said in the Catholic Church’s Dalits-related policies,” John explained.
Besides DCLM, the participants included National Council Of Dalit Christians, National Dalit Christian Watch, Viduthalai Tamil Puligal Katchi and the Christian People’s Forum.
Source: The Hindu
Caste system is not an integral part of Christianity. Hence, this demand sounds illogical, unreasonable and ridiculous. If some people like to import caste system for Christians, such persons should be politely advised to return to their previous community.
This is a fair demand.As a caste discrimination continues in the catholic church in india and need the need for a Bishop for the dalit clergy is felt.Especially in the Kadapa diocese of Andhra Pradesh, 80% of the population is Dalit catholic sehduled caste (Madiga) &-dominated but the administration is done by the forward caste community. The forward caste population is only 2%.
If this demand is met, it will lead to direct and open import of Casteism into Christianity. Christ did not advocate this.
Church in india is need of holy people… Not brahimins or harijans or adivasis.
The topic is self explanatory that decision makers of indian church is in friction with caste concept.
Earlier such topics were naver talked in public. The juries prudence of cardinals, archbishops were suffiecient to make right discisions.
The topic is leading to think of revival of bishops confrences to basic wisdom
It does not seem to be Christian the demand for bishops to represent a community. The bishop represents all communities. Secondly it is unchristian to divide them as Brahmin Christians, Shudra Christians etc. A Christian is not divided into local loyalties as he is loyal to Jesus ,loyal to love and unity. If there is injustice of avoiding some persons on the ground of his language, birth,etc etc, it is equally wrong and should be resisted. Here we must selectively find out if there was such a case to fight against an injustice. While agreeing that there should not be any discrimination on any grounds, we should not consider the appointment of bishops like company executives — even though some function like that.. Let us not degrade Jesus Christ and His Church, though some of us remain ignorant of Christ, his love and his togetherness.
It seems a just and equitable demand