By Matters India Reporter

New Delhi: Dalit Catholic groups in Tamil Nadu have expressed dismay at the Vatican appointing a non-Dalit as the bishop of a predominantly Dalit diocese in Tamil Nadu.

Pope Francis on May 31 appointed Father Arulselvam Rayappan, a seminary professor from the Vanniyar caste, as the bishop of Salem.

Dalit groups have been demanding a bishop from their community that forms 60 percent of Salem diocese’s nearly 87,000 Catholics.

Father Devasagaya Raj, former secretary of commission for Dalits and Tribals under the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), points OUT THAT Dalit people have for a year requested the apostolic nunciature in New Delhi and the Vatican to appoint Dalit bishops in vacant dioceses in Tamil Nadu. “It is sad, and the Dalits feel disappointed as their just plea has been ignored,” Father Raj told Matters India on May 31.

Jesuit Father A X J Bosco, advisor to the National Council for Dalit Christians, terms the new appointment as an injustice. “Although more than 60 percent of Catholics in Tamil Nadu are Dalits, they have only one bishop. There is no just representation of leaders in the Catholic Church,” bemoaned the former provincial of Andhra Jesuits.

According to him, every small group in other parts of the country has representation “but in Tamil Nadu the Dalits with the majority have been ignored and their just demands have been rejected.”

Father Kulandai Nathan, secretary of Tamil Nadu Bishop Council’s commission for Dalits and Tribals, says the appointment of a non-Dalit has upset Dalit Catholics throughout India.

Sister Sujata Jena, a Dalit human rights activist in Odisha, said she was pained to learn that Tamil Nadu has only one Dalit bishop. “It is unfair and unjust from the part of the Vatican to continue to ignore the rights of the vast majority of Catholics in Tamil Nadu as well as in India,” the lawyer nun told Matters India.

The appointment was not unexpected for Capuchin Father Nithiya Sagayam, a renowned retreat preacher. “This appointment is the result of sleepless nights and hard work of some persons. We can’t deny that,” added former executive secretary of CBCI’s for Justice and Peace Commission.

Sister Robancy Helen, who had served the CBCI Office for Dalits, bemoaned that the Vatican pays no heed to the cry of the Dalits. The numerous appeals to the Vatican and the nunciature are of no use. “Jesus listened to the cry of the poor and the oppressed but what about the Church?” asks the member of the Religious Institute of Christ the Redeemer.

“The Dalit Christians in India demand their rights inside the Church as they always believe in the Church principles of justice. “But the appointments of the bishops from the so-called dominant castes have disappointed them again and again,” she said.

Caste, she added, is a more dangerous and dreadful virus than coronavirus in the Indian Church. “Who will liberate us?” she asked.

29 Comments

  1. It is very painful that appointment of non dalit bishop to Salem diocese. Where is the justice to the cry of dalit who have been seeking their savoir for past few decades. There should be some to hear their plea, even the bishop usually neglects the plea of dalit in the diocese. So there is always nepotism involved in appointing bishop. There are able priest are there from dalit part, why then they are not for such office of the church. Why the church particularly neglected for past decades.

  2. I strongly suggest after 7/12 years of tenure every bishop to be transferred to another diocese. Not only as promotion as Archbishop but as new custom. So the local malicious influence of said Bishop William case can be withhold by new situation. Otherwise many more new cases will be revealed to public in unwanted manner.

  3. Dalits are our brethren. But arguing for appointment of bishops from Dalits or OBCs or Brahmins or from north or east etc. is divisive and will NEVER solve any problem. What is required is acceptance of Christ and His Teachings by all those who received baptism. If so, there would not be separate churches and cemeteries ; there would not be fight against one section going in procession through the street where another sect of people live. How the so called higher caste Christians work in govt. offices where we have 15 % of employees come from low castes.?This kind of problems we find mostly or only in Tamilnadu. The segregation prevailing in Kerala seems to be over or almost nil in Kerala. In seminary training the universal brotherhood, equality etc must be taught, with reference to the condition in India.Those who maintain the unchristian thoughts in this regard must be sent away from the seminary. The authorities should be loyal to the Teachings of Christ and Church and should tackle problems justly.

  4. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, Mangalore, January 9- 17, 1978 Standing Committee’s statement:
    Hence, discrimination of any type must be part of our Christian concern. When, unfortunately, it is practised within the church itself, it because a counter sign to the Gospel values we profess.

    The Statement of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (Kottayam 1988) says: “We are sadly aware that Christians too retain many negative aspects of the larger society of which they are part. The Scheduled Castes who have joined the Church should have found in it a community of equality and of freedom from caste oppression. But many of them feel twice discriminated against. The Secular State deprives them of economic benefits on a purely religious basis. The discrimination based on caste that is rampant in the rest of society continues also among Christians. Most Christians of Scheduled Caste origin is still deprived of economic opportunities, access to adequate educational facilities, leadership roles and participation in decision-making.”

    The Statement of the CBCI (Varanasi, March 21-28, 1998) says: “The prevalence of the caste-based practices, not only in society but also in some parts of the Church in India even at the close of the 20the century, is a matter of shame and disgrace to all of us. It is a cause of sorrow and expression of our inability to live our Christian faith adequately. It is not only a denial of human dignity and equality, but also against the fundamental teachings of Christ…”

    Address of John Paul II, to the Bishops of India, on their “Ad Limina” visit, Date, Monday, 17 November 2003.
    “All the times, you must continue to make certain that special attention is given to those belonging to the lower castes, especially the Dalits. They should never be segregated from other members of the society. Any semblance of a caste-based prejudice in relations between Christians is a countersign to authentic human solidarity, a threat to genuine spirituality and a serious hindrance to the Church’s mission of evangelisation. Therefore, customs or traditions that perpetuate or reinforce caste division should be sensitively reformed so that they may become an expression of the solidarity of the whole Christian community.”

    Action Plan for the Integrated Development of Catholic Dalits in Tamil Nadu.
    By Tamil Nadu Bishop Council (TNBC)
    Tamil Nadu- Pondicherry Catholic Religious of India (TNPCRI).
    “In places of worship and burial grounds Christians of Scheduled Castes Origin should be treated on a footing of equality and there should be no discrimination.”

    Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India- CBCI General Body Meeting, Trichy, January, 14, 1982).
    “We state categorically that caste, with its consequent effects of discrimination and caste mentality, has no place in Christianity. It is, in fact, a denial of Christianity because it is inhuman. It violates the God-given dignity and equality of the human person.”

    Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to Bishops of Tamil Nadu on their “Ad Limina” visit Monday, 18 June 2011.
    “The witness of the reciprocal love and service between you and your priests – without regard for caste or ethnicity but focussed upon the love of God, the spread of the Gospel and the sanctification of the Church – is earnestly desired by the people you serve.”

  5. IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
    CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
    CIVIL APPEAL No. 7065 OF 2008
    K.P. Manu … Appellant
    Versus
    Chairman, Scrutiny Committee for
    Verification of Community Certificate … Respondent
    Judgment delivered by: Honourable Justice. Dipak Misra and Honourable Justice. V. Gopala Gowda
    New Delhi
    February 26, 2015
    “25. Archbishop George Zur, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to India in his inaugural address to the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, (CBCI) in the meeting held in Pune during December 1991, made the following observations: “Though Catholics of the lower castes and tribes form 60 per cent of Church membership they have no place in decision-making. Scheduled caste converts are treated as low caste not only by high caste Hindus but by high caste Christians too. In rural areas they cannot own or rent houses, however, well-placed they may be. Separate places are marked out for them in the parish churches and burial grounds. Inter-caste marriages are frowned upon and caste tags are still appended to the Christian names of high caste people. Casteism is rampant among the clergy and the religious. Though Dalit Christians make 65 per cent of the 10 million Christians in the South, less than 4 per cent of the parishes are entrusted to Dalit priests. There are no Dalits among 13 Catholic bishops of Tamil Nadu or among the Vicars-general and rectors of seminaries and directors of social assistance centres.”

    Special Envoy of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples had emphasised the necessity for bringing more Bishops from the Dalit Christian Community, Pastoral visit to India, 9-16 February 2013, meeting with the Bishops – CCBI, Sunday, 10 February 2013:-
    “A missionary-minded Bishop pays pastoral attention to all the categories of people present in his diocese, without regard for caste or ethnicity but focused upon the love of God and the spread of the Gospel. No ethnic group, low-caste group, or minority group, must feel side-lined, marginalized or left out from the initiatives or pastoral works in your Diocese – I am thinking in admission to the Seminaries, in promoting to important parishes and curial duties, and episcopal candidates.”

    It was reported that during Sunday service in St. Mary’s Cathedral at Kumbakonam, caste Catholics withdrew from the service when Catholic Harijans entered the Cathedral and seated themselves among caste Catholics, instead of occupying the position intended for them. Commenting on the incident, Gandhiji wrote in Harijan on 26.12.1936.
    “Whether the Harijan is nominally a Christian, Muslim or Hindu and now Sikh, he is still a Harijan. He can’t change his spots inherited from Hinduism so called. He may change his garb and call himself a Catholic Harijan or a Muslim Harijan or neo- Muslim or neo-Sikh, his untouchability will haunt him during lifetime. It is one and the same thing whether you call numeral after five, half a dozen or six. Not until untouchability is removed from Hinduism will the taint be removed from Harijans, no matter what label they adopt. Therefore, Harijans have it in their hands either to save Hinduism or to destroy it, as caste Hindus have it in theirs. It is no doubt easier for Harijans to change labels than for caste Hindus to change their hearts, but it may be easier for Harijans to rise superior to every earthly temptation and be consciously steadfast in the faith in which they have been denied by their fellows the most elementary human rights. It is no doubt difficult for anybody to resist the temptations to which Harijans are exposed today. It will therefore be a marvel if they prove true and cling to their ancestral faith with determination to purify it by conscious supreme effort. They can do this as they could not before for they know that there is a growing body of caste Hindus who are making common cause with them and making reparation for their own past wrongs and the continuing wrongs of fellow caste Hindus. Thus viewed, the Kumbakonam incident is as much a shame of the Roman Church as it is of Hinduism.”

    Policy of Dalit Empowerment in the Catholic Church in India, An Ethical Imperative to Build Inclusive Communities, CBCI DALIT POLICY, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, Published by CBCI Office for Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes, New Delhi- 110001, December, 2016 in the Chapter, Status of Dalit Christians, paragraph No, 25, Page No. 15 says as follows:
    “…There is wider acceptance that the practice of untouchability and discrimination against Dalits exists in the Church and there is need to address these issues urgently…”

  6. Why import caste system from the previous community? It would be better for those who desire caste based reservations to re-convert and enjoy reservations as granted by the Government.

  7. The Diocese of Mysore has got a great, renowned, glorious and well reputed history and was nurtured and shepherded by six excellent Bishops. Unfortunately at present we have a bishop called Most Rev. K.A William who is most immoral, corrupt, unspiritual, materialist, worldly, ill-reputed and a dictator. We have all the evidences.

    Since we have complained Bishop K.A. William’s scandalous life to the Holy Father and the dicastery on 20-07-2019, the Bishop is threatening and harassing the priests who opposed him. We, the priests are finding difficult to do our ministry under him. Already two priests have lost their lives. The Diocese has been suffering a lot since four years. He is damaging and tarnishing the name of the Church. Many are leaving the Catholic Church.

    As Chhotebhai has commented above now Bishop William using Dalit trump card. We had Dalit bishop earlier. He preserved the diocese well. Whereas good number of priests and faithful do not want Bp. William to continue as Bishop.

    Whoever it may be the bishop let him take care the church. Let them understand that they are another christ.

  8. Dalit bishops Dalit provincials and Dalit generals? U people are fuming the Casticism in Tamil Nadu church? Y u people want to stamp like Dalit bishops vanniyar bishops udayar bishops Vellalar bishops??? Please let us try to look whether the appointed bishop will serve the people inclusive of all castes not excluding any group. Sometimes the so called well known scholars of the church are promoters of casticism . Pity the church

  9. It’s very disgusting to read this article!
    No doubt, Dalit people should be given equal rights. However, This article speaks from one sided and promulgate agitation against the Church. I contemn. From my caste also no Bishop in Tamilnadu.
    The writer thirsts to have priority to all the castes or only the Dalit Castes? If for all the casts, then let the writer give voice to erect 30 or 40 dioceses in Tamilnadu, or many more dioceses to give priority to all the castes!

  10. With two Dalit bishops (Mysore and Cuddapah) putting the Church in a spot, it looks like that Vatican has concluded that Dalits have a long way to go before being considered as meeting the expectations of Pope.

  11. The report ends with a question: “Who will liberate us?”

    My humble views/thoughts:
    * Do not wait for a Savior to come to liberate you.
    * Liberation is in your hands.
    * If Dalit leaders feel that the new appointment of Salem bishop is an “injustice” done to Dalits, then, what prevents you to fight against this injustice?
    * Organize yourselves, awaken the people, protest and take all possible legal actions.
    * Why do you think that the bishop’s appointment by the Vatican cannot be stopped or changed?
    * What is not possible? “People’s movement” can rewrite history.
    * Arise, awake and stop not till your goal is reached.

  12. Why is the Vatican deaf to the voices of marginalized groups? When they profess to represent Jesus – would Jesus have ignored the voices of Dalits today?

  13. Church’s leadership must wake up and address the real problems

  14. Major news, since few years, from CBCI is nothing but caste based news, identity crisis of man and woman religious and their social status. How can Indian church address the real issues of evangelization? And relevance of its extraordinary role as church in diaspora.
    It is silently approved truth that CBCI has entrusted evangelization work to protestant churches.
    Timely transfers of the bishops will solve many of the unwanted issues of this kind.

  15. The malaise concerning the demand for a caste-based appointment of bishops is turning out to be dangerous and could lead to a cauldron if not checked in its tracks right away.
    It is disgusting that priests and religious who’ve held office at some stage or other with the CBCI/CCBI can ‘bemoan’ so vociferously the appointment of a ‘non-Dalit bishop for a Dalit majority diocese’. Oughtn’t such former officials to make bold efforts to get all and sundry to get out of the caste rut? How certain are they that ALL Dalit priests have the makings of a bishop anyway?
    This kind of fostering of caste politics in the church can go on to become a festering wound worse than CANCER and CORONA put together.

  16. Forgiveness VS Repentance: We, the Dalit Christians exercise the virtue of forgiveness. Yes, when ever the higher caste men are appointed as bishops we only forgive the church officials for their sin of omissions. They unjustly deny our due places in the administration. In the present appointment of Salem diocese nepotism is found working, as the new one is close relative of bishop Abir. Once again we have to forgive them and be obedient to them.

    My concern is when do the officials are going repent for the sin of omissions and negligence. Every appointment of new bishop is totally against the justice based demand of Dalit Christians.

    It goes on and on… maintaining the status quo of FORGIVENESS VS REPENTANCE…

  17. Propotionate representation must be given to all communities and culture .rejecting
    and ignoring the dalit community in church hirearchical leadership is injustice .

  18. The Holy Apostolic Church is becoming blind regarding bishop elect because years ago the church itself condemned the nepotism but the recent bishop elect issue the church completely favour to him they Bp Peter Abir ( sultanpet) and recent bishop elect Rayappa close and blood relatives how church ignores these matters at the same time why the Holy mother Church purposely avoid the mandate of Jesus. Is the Catholic Church Reign by God or caste people ?

  19. Also did the local populace propose the names of Dalit candidates to the Nunciature?

  20. Similarly BP William of Mysore Diocese also uses the Dalit card to claim that he is being victimised because he is a Dalit. His alleged misdeeds are well documented and bear no repetition. So while we must encourage Dalit leadership it should not be the sole criteria.

  21. The Catholicity of the Church is damaged by the Caste minded Clergy for their incompetency. If Jesus did not ask his disciples to go to the whole world and if St.Paul did not understand the message of Holy Spirit to preach to the Non-Jews,we would not be in the Catholic Church.If Bishops and Clergy cannot rise above Caste and teach others to be same,then such persons are no better than Pagans. How can the Catholic Church be then Catholic?

  22. We have several bishops and even a cardinal from tribal communities, so why not from Dalit communities, especially if they form a major part of the local populace? However, just being a Dalit doesn’t ensure being a good pastor. No Galela Prasad of Cuddapah Diocese claimed that he had been kidnapped by high caste priests because he was a Dalit. He was subsequently suspended for other nefarious activities.

  23. It is painful to see the Vatican showing it is a AUTHORITY unlike Jesus Christ who challenged the authority.
    It is also painful t see a Jesuits Pope ignoring the request and identity of the dalit on one side and another Jesuit fr. Stan fighting for the cause of aadivasi and dalit.
    Wrong decisions can be corrected.

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