By A Pushparajan
Bengaluru: Nowadays we come across protests being staged against the appointments of bishops. Leaflets are afloat with an appeal to the Pope to “stop caste discrimination in the Catholic Church.”
A simple glance at these leaflets enkindles certain reflections in a fair-minded faithful like me who has been actively involved in the Church affairs in various capacities (secretary to Archdiocesan Commission for Dialogue for sixteen years, consulter to CBCI Commission for Laity, and member of the National Advisory Council, consulter to the Pontifical Commission for Faith and Culture, among others.).
First of all, there is no gainsaying that the Indian Church has been infested with virus of caste discrimination which needs to be eradicated root and branch. Nor is there a second opinion about the Dalits’ demand to stop caste discrimination.
The only problem is to understand the logic behind raising the demand vociferously on occasions of appointment of bishops. Still worse is the type of argument made out in support of the claim. It usually runs like this: “Since the Dalits form the majority of the faithful in some dioceses, appointment of bishops in those dioceses should be made from Dalit communities.” Worse still is to appeal to Pope Francis to intervene and stop the caste discrimination in our local Church.
• Caste discrimination is not an ecclesial doctrine to be removed by the Papal authority. Nor is it a customary practice of the global Church to be withdrawn by the intervention of the Pope.
• It is a sociological virus that we, Indian Christians, have inherited from the ancient stratification of society. Hence the onus is on us to destroy it ourselves rather than asking our Holy Father to stop it. What we need is a strong ‘political will’ of all the faithful (Dalits or non-Dalits, priests, laity and the religious) to eradicate the virus altogether from our social ethos as well as our mindset.
• Despite the Constitutional provisions forbidding the practice of untouchability, caste discriminations have been persisting until today even in small village-communities. Even in a parish which is purely ‘Dalit parish’ there has been a perpetual warfare between two Dalit communities, one claiming superiority over the other and vice versa, involving even murders of individuals.
• Also in our Institutes or Formation houses where a Dalit has been appointed as head (mainly for the sake of giving preference to the Dalit-cause), the other members, stressed over their shades of Dalit identity have been conflicting with his/her headship, precisely for this reason that he/she does not belong to ‘our’ group.
• With such discriminating practices galore in our petite circles, we live like fighting kids un-repentant of our sin. Is it proper, then, to appeal to the Holy Father to stop it, by appointing a Dalit bishop?
• For argument’s sake, let us suppose, the appeal is granted and a ‘Dalit’ bishop is appointed in a particular diocese. Will it solve the problem of caste discrimination in that diocese automatically? Will not other subgroups clamor for ‘their own’ leader to be appointed a bishop in another diocese in which they are the majority?
A more serious question is: Whether appointment of bishop in the Church can be made on basis representation or reservation?
• Reservation norms are special provisions guaranteed by our Constitution to offer certain facilities like education and job-opportunities to compensate for the deprivations people have suffered for ages in the past. They are to last for a limited period of time only.
• But these provisions do not apply to such leadership-posts like the office of Chief/Prime Minister. Such posts can never be claimed as a matter of ‘right’ on the basis of quota system. Rather it is matter of ‘merit’ which is decided by such criteria as the achievements one has made, the rigorous training one has undergone, hardships one has suffered for the sake of the party and the people, and the contribution one has made to the common good of the society.
• If, thus, the quota-system cannot be applied to even in political realm, how can we claim it to be applied in the realm of spiritual governance?
• To be appointed a bishop is indeed a call within a call. The choice of the ‘high priest’ is usually made only from among those who are already called to be ‘ministers of the Church.’ This call cannot be decided on the basis of numerical strength of the faithful residing in a diocese, or with a criterion of representation or reservation.
• In our Church alone there is a hoary tradition of choosing worthy candidates, a process largely insulated against any lobbying or politicking. Those who are endowed with the desired requirements will ‘command’ the bishoprics rather than demanding it as matter of ‘right’. Much less, to indulge in instigating people to make appeals to the Pope? Least expected, to protest against the appointments already made.
There are some rumors, afloat that manipulations play a role. If true, then the existing hierarchy must own responsibility. They must take some positive steps to address such grievances. More and more transparency must become the rule of the day.
• But this does not mean that the well tested methods of choosing worthy candidates needs to be given up. Otherwise, our Mother Church is fated to degenerate into the same fiasco the Protestant main-line Churches and in the denominations, where the appointment of bishops are heavily politicized.
In fine,
• Let us try to wash our own dirty linens of caste discrimination within our own circles, rather than appealing to the Pope who is not party to it.
• Let us stop claiming for the bishoprics on the basis of quota system or as a matter of representation.
• Let the existing hierarchy prove that they are above suspicion of caste considerations and maintain the sanctity of the hoary tradition of our Mother Church in appointment or transfer of bishops.
(Professor A Pushparajan retired as the head of the Department of Interreligious Relations in Madurai Kamaraj University. Currently based in Bengaluru, he gives guest lectures in the fields of his specialization: Dialogue, Gandhi, Ecology and Laity.)
How sad that even after 2000 years we are not able to imbibe the true spirit of Christ, evan as we claim to be Christians!! We are still taken up bu the worldly spirit of casteism, whereas in fact we shall all be one in spirit, beyond all discrimination of cast or color or region.
What shall the Pope do in a malicious system that our Indian mindset has created and followed for centuries? As a good father he can advise us: but how many will heed to it. Let us begin the purification within ourselves, as individuals, communities, parishrs, organizations, and dioceses. Let us humble ourselves and try to br docile to the Holy Spirit – if at all we believe in Him.
I agree with you sir. It is not fair.
To say the least, the author’s false assumptions and flawed arguments falsify his own claim to being “a fair-minded faithful”.
The message of the author is gravely oppressive. He takes the side of the oppressors when he opposes the views of the oppressed. The Church is catholic…but doesn’t mean that anyone can be appointed anywhere…the right of the locals should be respected. So far there was no protests. People just obliged. Time has come. Please do not be brahminic. Theologian does not mean you are right always. When you say it should be given based on the merit… you should ask this basic question why Dalits were not given opportunity so far to be leaders. If they were not capable, why they were not capable….Let us allow Holy Spirit to guide the Church at least for some time.
I understand the appeal by Dalit group is quite valid. Why?
1) The Pope is the Supreme Authority of the Catholic church.
2) Most often he is not aware of the problems of a Local Church unless and until it is brought to his notice
3) It is true that the “dirty linen should be washed within”. If so, why the clerical sexual abuses are reported to the Pope and he defrocks the accused clergy?
4) Has the CBCI/CCBI ever taken concrete steps or initiatives to solve the “Caste Discriminations” widespread in the Indian Catholic church. NO.
5) Has any of these bodies taken the matter with the Vatican? NO.
So, the affected groups naturally appeal to the Pope. Let us not find fault with those who make such appeal. There are “painful stories” behind such appeals.
It is a pity that the author of this article Prof.Pushparajan, who has been working in the church circle many years, has either purposefully not understood the real problem or misinterpreted it to suit his mind. Wether or not the author aware of the history in our catholic church and in many dioceses, still, vocations were/are promoted only from higher castes. Even in dalit dominated dioceses, vocations statretd coming only after getting dalit leaderships. Did the author ever question why the church was not acting in right Spirit for a such a long time, and yet still in many dioceses? Is not preaching as well as practicing the word of God go together? I think the author seems to be lost in the possibility of gratuitousness which are actually inadequate or has not succeded in bringing justice to the majority of the dalits catholics in the Indian Church. For me, calling to change unjust structures which is perpetrating evil, is a key issue in realising the social mission of the church. Both love and justice which needs to be pursued consciously, is required to address adequately the issue of Dalit leadership in the church.
Secondly, the author seems to be biased towards dalit leadership. It is a fact that only after getting dalit leadeship, vocations started coming in from the dalit community in some dioceses and in many diocese still dalit vocations are denied oppourtunity. For me, in general Dalit leadership in the dioceses especially as bishops, are inclusive. Dalit leaderships, unlike non-dalit leaderships, promotes always equality and inclusion. For this, dalit leaderships always recieve many challenges from caste priests and people as if promoting equality and inclusion is the sole resposbility of dalit leadership. Immense pressure is exercised on the dalit leadership from non-dalits.
Therefore, the Holy See should take into account people representation which is a issue of justice in Spirit, as well as gratuitous love of God while appointing bishops in the Indian Church.
Not just casteism, but also ethnic chauvinism and nepotism are quite common in the church. There are some dioceses that, till very recently, would take “vocations” only from specific places. However, I would agree with the writer that this is our local problem, not that of the Pope, though we are within our rights to draw his attention to these factors in the appointment of bishops and others.
The suggestions and opinions of ourHierarchy or even Vatican and theologians and philosophers have no use. Jesus told the world. “. For out of the heart come evil intentions,murder,adultery,fornication,theft,false witness
====.================================================================================ slander “ The evil intentions of bishops,priests and the lay persons is the real reason for the Tamilnadu problem. It is not Brahmin- Dalit problem, but Jesus -anti Jesus problem. . Think of this problem that has defiled these pro and anti forces . Once they try to know Jesus, the problem can get easily solved.. The sad fact is that the Church as well as it’s many authorities and many so called Catholics do not very much believe
=================================================================================== In the Teachings of Jesus and His Church.
Caste discrimination on d choice of bishoprics in India is certainly a matter of concern for d Church hierarchy to introspect n evaluate. D issue has to b taken up by CBCI / CCBI. D Bishop’s’ conferences reflect , discern n decide what wud b best option in d matters of choice of Bishops in d diocese or region.
Besides caste discrimination in d choice of Bishops, there is another huge factor aligning colonial domination factor. Especially in North India where clergy from South dominate they try to keep their power structures. Since they r majority they try to practice neo-colonial policies. Communal domination over local leadership is rampant. Either d voice of local communities r choked by d administrative systems by Internalised domination factor or those local who want to perpetuate a type of internalised slavery their presence within hierarchy r misused in d manner being ‘Bhola-bhala’ . D power to rule n govern remains within majority communal factor. During the post Second Vatican period this has been d trend. No doubt vocations did pour into north. However they created their own power blocs to control d system. Church leadership shud reflect on this power structure more seriously n make appropriate discernment in d choice of Bishops. In d matters of choice of Bishops there is not much difference compared to political leadership process.