By Robancy A Helen

Chennai, May 4, 2022: The demand for a Dalit Rite in the Catholic Church in India was reiterated at a conference of theologians, biblical scholars and canon law experts from the community.

Caste is a stark reality and caste-based discrimination is rampant in the Catholic Church’s hierarchy, parishes and institutions, bemoans Reverend Vincent Manoharan, a theologian, while introducing the April 28-29 conference at St. Thomas International Centre, Chennai.

Dalits, he pointed out, are totally neglected in the Church despite the Dalit Empowerment Policy of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India that demanding to set it right.

The bishops issued the policy on December 13, 2016, that acknowledged that “caste discrimination is a grave social sin” and committed to ensuring that the practice of untouchability will not be tolerated within the Church.

Reverend Manoharan also added that the Dalit representation is abominable in the Catholic Church and their voices are not heard adequately.

“While Dalit Christians struggle politically for their rights and space, it is essential to discern and reflect theologically, biblically, canonically, liturgically and ecclesiastically for an Indian Dalit Rite that alone will help those in hierarchy and all domains, to understand, recognize and accept the aspirations, history and culture of Dalits as a distinct community, the majority in the Church,” he asserted.

This round table conference called for collecting scholarly papers and presenting them to the hierarchy to justify the Dalit Rite in the Church.

Father Cosmon Arockiaraj, one of the organizers the moderator, in his opening remarks asserted that the demand is “a new Pentecost” for the Dalit Christians.

“We have a new mission to take the idea to the clergy and the people for our own Church, religiosity and spirituality. We definitely need to face the misinterpretations and misunderstandings of this demand by the vested interests,” he added.

However, Dalit Christians have to remind the people and those in power in the Church about their distinct identity, cultural specificity, practices and traditions, Father Arockiaraj said. “We need to go for a long way but we must be steady and strong, as ours is a genuine demand for our own Church where we will nourish our faith and practice,” he asserted.

The presentation from the participants began with noted Asian theologian Father Felix Wilfred’s paper that explained the demand for the Indian Dalit Rite.

The conference suggested the following plan of action:

• To organize another round table conference in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.
• Conduct similar intellectual workshops on Indian Dalit Rite at Bengaluru (Karnataka), Pune (Maharashtra), Kolkata (West Bengal) and New Delhi, the national capital.
• To compile papers presented in the first round table, to compile a document and share it within Tamil Nadu and in all regional meetings.
• Attempt at international lobbying in the Vatican
• Write homilies, reflections, cultural forms on Indian Dalit Rite and share them with people
• Maintain gender balance in the process for the Indian Dalit Rite

9 Comments

  1. Again kind invitation to read the article on Dalit Rite by Felix Wilfred and Cosmon Arokiaraj. I am ready to send a soft copy to your e-mail addresses.

  2. In Malayalam there is a saying that roughly translates to “can a crow turn into white stork by taking a bath”. This is exactly the way the so called upper caste Christians deal with Dalits unless the latter come into money and wealth. What I have to say to the Dalits is “go back to your original faith” and regain reservation rights. In doing so you don’t lose anything but as a bonus might end up avoid getting roasted in hell and instead regain the better option of being reborn.

  3. Dear Brothers/Sisters in Christ,

    Let me urge you to read the article written by Felix Wilfred and Cosmon Arokiaraj, ” Towards Indo- Dalit Rite and Individual Church- A Proposal”
    After reading the article, let us have a fruitful discussion.

    Fr. Cosmon Arokiaraj

  4. Indo Dalit rite is the need of the hour. With in the existing rites The Dalits can not enjoy the Risen Christ experience and the Equality State of life. Hence, we the people of Risen Christ demand A Rite of our own with in the provisions of Canan law.

  5. Without commenting on the arguments used in support of a Dalit rite, I wonder if anyone has ever pointed out that the two Sui juris recites in effect protect casteism and racism in the guise of history and culture. Do these have place under the Indian constitution?

  6. What we really need is total integration and zero tolerance for discrimination within the community. Dalit Christian leaders could learn from how tribal Christians have integrated and now hold their own.

  7. We need integration not more segregation. Rites are accidents or incidents of history. There is no need to perpetrate them. In India spreading the Rites outside Kerala has only led to more competition, especially based on monetary contributions. It is disgusting.

  8. This is the theatre of the absurd. The medicine is worse than the disease. I am amazed at theologians barking up the wrong tree.

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