By Cedric Prakash
Ahmedabad, August 21, 2026: It is heart-warming that the Catholic Church in India will observe 23 August as ‘Justice Sunday’. The theme is ‘Justice Begins with Us’ (Is 1:17).
In a communique dated 22 July 2026, the Chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India’s Office for Justice, Peace & Development, Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore, writes that the prophet Isaiah reminds us that true worship of God is inseparable from the practice of justice.
God calls us not merely to avoid wrongdoing, but to actively seek justice, protect the vulnerable, and uphold the dignity of every person. Besides, the covering letter for Justice Sunday, the Archbishop’s communiqué also has a relevant poster, a reflective circular, an appropriate liturgical guide and homily points.
Significantly, thanks to the stewardship of Archbishop Machado, the Church in India will be observing ‘Justice Sunday’ this year, after a long time. Perhaps in the recent past, there has been token activity in some Dioceses.
Interestingly, since 2014, this important day has been put into cold storage or has been conveniently forgotten. One does not have to go too far to find the reason/s for doing so.
It was the CBCI that took a resolution in 1989 to observe the Sunday after Independence Day annually as ‘Justice Sunday’ in the Church in India.
The focus of this special day was to raise awareness of the injustices prevailing in the country, particularly caste discrimination and social inequalities. The first ‘Justice Sunday’ was observed on 20 August 1989.
Since then, painstaking efforts have been made every year by the CBCI’s Justice, Peace and Development office to prepare appropriate materials like concept and liturgical notes for a meaningful observance of the day. Till, of course, the ‘blackout’ in recent years.
‘Justice Sunday’ is being observed at a time when our country is reeling under heaps of injustices. One experiences injustices everywhere. The minorities are targeted – there are numerous and consistent attacks on the Muslims, the Christians and the Sikhs.
Dalits who have embraced Christianity or Islam are denied their legitimate rights. The jal, jungle aur jameen (water, forests, land) of the Adivasis is being systematically snatched away from them. Unemployment is rampant. The small farmers, the casual labourers, the migrant workers are subject to exploitation.
Women and other genders are at the receiving end of a brutal patriarchal system. Environmental Justice in India is zilch. The list is endless indeed!
‘Justice Sunday’ is then an opportune time for the Church in India (hierarchy, clergy, religious, faithful) to respond authentically and proactively, visibly and vocally to cries of victims of injustice.
It is public knowledge that, of late, the Church in India, in general (with the notable exception of a minuscule minority), has abdicated the prophetic role it needs to play in these challenging times.
By kowtowing to a fascist regime, some in positions of responsibility in the Church have openly betrayed the person and message of Jesus.
Many are still gripped with fear, with self-interest, and these pay scant attention to Jesus’ mandate, “fear no one”! Others are ensconced in their comfort zones; still others say, “Why bother, as long as I am not affected!”
Besides Jesus’ own words, Catholic Social Doctrine has been consistent in its understanding of being a witness today. The 1971 Synod of Bishops on ‘Justice in the World’ ushered in a watershed moment for the Church.
The Synodal document stated that, “In the face of the present-day situation of the world … urges us to listen with a humble and open heart to the word of God, as he shows us new paths toward action in the cause of justice in the world.” A call so painfully relevant today.
In ‘Dilexi Te’ Pope Leo XIV is emphatic stating that the Church sides with and takes a stand for the poor; that we all must be aware that there are “structures of sin” that keep the poor in poverty and lead those who have sufficient resources to ignore the poor or think they are better than them and that “we need to be increasingly committed to resolving the structural causes of poverty;”
Pope Leo is more blunt in ‘Magnifica Humanitas’, calling the Church to do a serious examination of conscience, which will make many within the Church uncomfortable.
He says that the five principles (the common good, the universal destination of goods, subsidiarity, solidarity and social justice) of the Social Doctrine of the Church should be applied not only to society, but also to the Church.
He says living out this justice calls for “purifying ecclesial relationships and structures from distortions that give rise to inequality, lack of transparency and abuse of power.”
The plain and sad truth is that many in the Church will NOT take ‘Justice Sunday’ seriously! It would be good to take a survey to see how many Dioceses, parishes and institutions have actually observed the day.
More so, how many are willing to mainstream justice in their own lives, in their institutions, within the Church and above all accompany the people in their struggle for justice!
Archbishop Machado puts it succinctly, “Justice begins with us—when we choose truth over falsehood, compassion over indifference, service over self-interest, and love over prejudice. … May Justice Sunday 2026 inspire us to remember that lasting transformation begins with each one.”
(Jesuit Father Cedric Prakash is a human rights, reconciliation and peace activist and writer. Contact: cedricprakash@gmail.com )