By Matters India Reporter
Puducherry: The headquarters of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry-Cuddalore on December 3 witnessed tension when a group of Dalit Catholic leaders tried to meet priests from their community.
Mary John, Tamil Nadu state leader for Dalit Christian Liberation Movement, priests were in a peaceful dialogue with the archdiocesan administration to end untouchability in the archdiocese.
But archdiocesan procurator Father Gregory Louis Joseph stopped the leaders at the gate of the Archbishop’s House. The Dalit leaders then approached the police, who helped open the gate.
“We, the Dalits, have every right to meet our priests,” John told Matters India.
The Dalit priests’ representatives wanted to meet the archbishop on November 30.
“We have come here to dialogue with the diocesan administration to eradicate caste discrimination and the untouchable practices in the archdiocese especially in the appointment of the Dalit priests,” John explained.
The Dalit priests say the archdiocese has 42 posts, including that of the procurator, that remain out of bounds for them.
Since the term of the procurator was over the Dalit priests’ requested the archbishop to appoint one of their people to the post.
“But unfortunately, the college of consulters, who met on the following day, did not honor the request,” John said.
The priests again met with the archbishop who informed them that Father Gregory had resigned on November 13 and his place was taken by Father Albert Felix on December 1.
The archbishop on November 24 sent a circular informing the faithful that he was taking a two-month leave for health reasons. He appointed Father A. Arulanandam, the Vicar General, as the archdiocesan administrator in his absence.
The archbishop’s circular, dispatched by Father Gregory, the procurator, quoted a letter from Propaganda Fide that the appointment of the new procurator was suspended for two months.
A letter signed by 23 Dalit priests, addressed to the apostolic nuncio, expressed their concerns about the absence of the archbishop. They alleged that the college of archdiocesan consulters had held an unprecedented meeting without the archbishop and reversed the prelate’s decision on the procurator. According to them, this forced the archbishop to go on leave.
The Dalit priests want the nuncio to inform Propaganda Fide that the consulters had misguided it.
The consulters justify their letter to the Propaganda Fide and assert that a particular group cannot compel a bishop to agree to their demands.
The Dalit priests’ representatives say they now feel like sheep without shepherd. “We cannot also approach the vicar general as his administrative powers are not clear under the Canon Law,” they say.
The Dalit leaders first raised their concern in March through letters and email that appealed the archbishop to end the highly polarized casteism in the archdiocese.
On March 9, a few Dalit priests met the archbishop and appealed him to consider equality and fraternity while transfers and appointments. There also pointed out that no Dalit priests serve parishes dominated by Non-Dalit Catholics.
“Dalit people’s welfare is undermined, Dalit priests are sidelined in positions of power and authority, although the Dalit policy document of the Indian bishops categorically states that power and authority in decision making must be shared,” John alleged.
We talk too much about Jesus and his teaching, but practise very little. We are the worst type of hypocrites. Shame on us.
These Dalits may have thought that converting themselves to Christianity offered them a quick fix out of their low grade and the misery that went with it. What is more; it came with the added bonus of a place known as Heaven and the possibility of ending up there once they die. Alas, little did they knew that in the process they would end up jumping from the frying pan to the fire. Why cling to Catholic faith? They should just abandon it and join one of the Protestant Churches or Born Again groups. After all, all of them have same brand ambassador, Jesus. What a miss for emperor Constantine that he didn’t invent copy rights law and had registered the right to use Jesus’ name exclusively to Catholics. If the discrimination continues even in these other churches, they should just do a “Ghar Bapsi” to their original faith. At least they will get back SCST and the benefits that go with it. Shame on Catholic Church. They seem to be on the side of money which the higher caste have and these poor guys don’t.
Casteism and politics based on caste, language and regional feelings have no place in Christianity. Certainly, Jesus our Lord won’t approve that sort of leadership in our Church. Hope better sense would prevail.
Dalit Priests and Peoples are very highly capable to admit the power and position. Must the church respect our Dalits brethren demands in the church. I strongly condemn the caste priests behaviors towards to our brethren.
There is no place in Christ’s Church for discrimination of any kind, most importantly casteism. Much less that Christ’s chosen ones, our bishops, should practice it among the priesthood. Shame has come upon them. Prayer must be brought to bear. God the father we beg your forgiveness for them..
No improvement can be expected,if the people claiming to belong to different castes do not care to follow the teachings of Christ. It is wrong to have the caste mentality and divisions in the Church. That discrimination will disappear only if the people try to stop that way of thinking. It will not go by a pastoral letter or even from a directive of the Pope. Some priests and some decent laity must work sincerely for the elimination of divisiveness. Qualified and suitable persons irrespective of caste considerations should get chances in the right way to occupy positions. WILLIGNESS to abide by Christian ways for settlement of disputes must COME.
Shame shame, Tamilnadu Catholics are still groping in darkness.
Ridiculous situation. Casteism within Christians. Daluts became Christians due to Casteism in the Hindu religion. This was the reason why President Rajendra Prasad in 1950 refused Dalits demand for SCST status. Practising casteism in 2021. The Church higherups must immediately intervene in the matter and stoo the practice immediately. It is a blit on Christianity.
It is a shame that within the church we have discrimination on the basis of caste.
We have champions who pursue the cause of human rights, with the government here within the church we cannot set our own house in order.
The competent authority within the church must act swiftly and ensure that faithful do not think themselves to be untouchables.