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Smart Companion India | June 2010 1

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2 Smart Companion India | June 2010

editorial

Powered by Love
M
ary Magdalene “walked in haste” to the place where Jesus was laid to rest.
Hers was an act of courage motivated by pure love. While fear kept the
disciples crippled indoors, here was Magdalene ‘seeking the Master’ even
after that depressing Friday. Time or tide did not bother her. “You can
be crushed even to death and yet, if you believe in God and have hope
in the heart, He will raise you up to life and victory”, was the message she carried from
the Risen Lord.
This story has captured our hearts down the centuries - the story of the woman who
first announced the Lord’s resurrection. There were also ‘other women’ who, even when
men deserted and disowned the Master, followed him to Calvary. And yet, somewhere
down the history of the Church, women came to be looked as ‘weaker’ sex and cause of
‘sin’. Even as the political farce of women empowerment is being enacted with cosmetic
touch-ups, the Church in India also has come up with a document to that effect. Where
will that take us to? Talk of women being given greater responsibility in the Church and
there is an uneasy silence around you!
It’s time for the Church more than all others to recognize that women’s endurance co-
efficient is higher than men’s. They can change the direction of history if they are true
to themselves. History took a new twist when Mary of Nazareth sang the song of libera-
tion. She epitomized that song when she stood under the cross of her Son. We did hear
stories of such courage in contemporary times as well from the strife-stricken areas of
Kandhamal and elsewhere in India. The Sacred Heart nun who stayed in the forest with
the Christians driven from their homes and later succumbed to malaria, the Missionaries
of Charity who ‘protected’ the mentally-challenged, the Sisters of Charity who refused
to leave the girls in the boarding in spite of threats are only a few examples from the
many who withstood threats and deprivation, preferring death with the people than the
security of their convents elsewhere.
Women were and still are courageous disciples of the Lord in the Church, even after
2,000 years. If the Church has come short of recognizing such noble qualities of heart
and mind, it is tragic, not so much for women as for the Church, half of whose mem-
bers are women. God made humans ‘in His own likeness’ and ‘He made them man and
woman’. Indian theologians have started asserting that we need to see the feminine in
God. This balance has to be maintained in any sane society. The intuitive wisdom and
genuine self-giving of women cannot be restricted to forcing subservient roles on them
- they must have a say in decision and policy-making. Women can be effective not just as
much as men, but even excel them qualitatively in areas where intuition and sixth sense
matter. They can combine head and heart most effectively.
Leela J. Perumpally


PATRONS

Vol.1 No. 1 June 2010

Cheif Editor Dr. Jacob Naluparayil
Consulting Editor Dr. Jacob Srampickal
Cardinal Cardinal
Executive Editor Sr. Leela J. Perumpally Telesphore Toppo Oswald Gracias
Language Editor Sr. Virginia B.S.
K.X.M. John
Design Shaji Damodar
Photo Nias Marikar
Illustrations Sathish Krishna
Circulation Thomas V.
Catholicos Cardinal
Advertisement Sunny N.C. Baselios Mar Cleemis Varkey Vithayathil

Contributing Editors
Allwyn Fernandes (Crisis Communications Professional)
Cyril D’Souza (Education, Rome)
Francis Gonsalves (Theology, Delhi)
MCBS Provincial
Felix Raj (Education, Calcutta) Francis Kodiyan
Godfrey D’Lima (Social Activist, Maharashtra)
George Therukattil (Theology, Trichur)
Joe Andrew (Media, Madras) Advisory Board
John Dayal (Journalist, Delhi) Rev. Henry D’Souza
Subhash Anand (Theology, Udaipur) (Bishop, Bellary)
Regional Correspondents Rev. Steven Rotluanga
(Bishop, Aizawl)
Adolf Washington (Bangalore)
Joseph S. (Varanasi) Rev. Felix Toppo
Ivan D’Silva (Arunachal) (Bishop, Jamshedpur)
Santhosh Sebastian (Gorakhpur) Sr. Santan Nago
Santosh Digal (Orissa) (Superior General, Fatima Sisters, Pune)
Shane Alliew (Calcutta)
George Plathottam SDB
Editorial Office (CBCI Media Commission)
SMART COMPANION INDIA Felix Wilfred SJ
Kalpaka Bangalow (Asian Centre for Cross Cultural Studies, Madras)
Perumanoor P.O.
Thevara, Kochi - 680 215
Jose Kavi
(UCAN, Delhi)
Kerala, INDIA.
companionindia@yahoo.com

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laws. Articles published will be made available to the readers for per-
sonal use on written request. Disclaimer: ‘COMPANION’ is dedicated
to providing useful and well researched pieces of information. How-
ever readers are advised to consult prior to acting on it. The views
expressed by writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the
views of the editor or publisher of the magazine. ‘COMPANION’
does not accept any liability for errors or redundancies of any nature
whatsoever. All disputes are subject to the Cochin jurisdiction only.
Cover Photo: Nias Marikar


contents

CONTENTS
Empowered
10 Women

Knocked Out in
Kandhamal?

20
Columns
CRICKET in India

Readers’ Voice 6
News 8
Changing the Face of Youth 22
Paedophiles in the Church 24
God Never Fails 26
For a Participatory Church 28
Bible Enthroned in Homes 30

14
Witnessing as Communication 34
Corruption 38


READER
readers’ v ice

From the many reader responses we received
here are some representative comments from the dif-
ferent parts of the country. We thank our readers
for their enthusiastic response to this new magazine.
Please feel free to send in your suggestions and re-
sponses. We are constrained for space to include all
the letters. Kindly excuse. Chief Editor.

Go back to Jesus’ style fees’! There was always something officials were caught off guard and
February issue of Companion I fishy about it all. I think it is high the entire community had to feel
liked the interview with Michael time that the Church as a body the sting of shame. There must be
Amaladoss. I appreciate the fact learn to face the truth and stand by some way where we can control
that Michael had the guts to speak it. “The truth shall make you free”, the damage caused and stop crises
his mind fearlessly. His stress Jesus said. I understand the pres- from escalating further. We are in
on regional theology is a highly sure the school management may dire need of a crisis management
sensitive area but a most urgent have had to face but they could use team [CMT} comprising of people
one. Down the centuries, Christian this opportunity to expose such to be ready when such crises sweep
theology has succeeded greatly to threats. upon us.
take the ordinary believers away Santhosh Cherian Allen Johannes
from the Gospel simplicity and Bangalore Patna
joy! The Prophet from Nazareth Well done PR Tips A Timely Challenge
had taught with wisdom and ‘like Allwyn Fernandes’ article on the The story on Dalits was good.
no one else’. I feel Michael is invit- Ruchika-Rathore episode is thought Laity and clergy and even Bishops
ing us to go back to the style of provoking. I say that because it are credited (should be debited)
Jesus in communicating God to points out where the church dam- with causing hurt. I hope it chal-
our people. age control system was found to be lenges Catholics to confront their
Tomy C like a sitting duck, in the volley of social practices. Ruchika case also
Bhopal press and media fire. The church provided a fine consideration for
The Wind is blowing!
Congratulations and best wishes
to Smart COMPANION. I have
made a printout of the two pages Excellent photo
by Amaladoss. Reason? I just fin-
ished a book called: Flames from Hi there! I liked the photo you
Embers --the Indian film theory. have used for the article on ‘Ru-
Looks like the Wind is blowing. chika vs Rathore’. The girl with
Gaston Roberge face in her cupped hands speaks
Calcutta volumes about what agonies chil-
dren can go through in their life. I
It Takes Courage felt sad to learn that her school did
Reading ‘Ruchika vs Rathore’ by not stand by her. Officers whose
Allwyn Fernandes made that issue daily bread is our tax money can
very clear to me. I was wondering tread over us to this extent and yet
all the time why should a Christian go scot-free as respectable per-
Institution which is supposed to sons! What a democracy is this?
accompany students with prob- Tharunima S, Indore
lems, dismiss a student at all….
and that too for ‘failing to pay the


RS’ V OICE
managing the media. Reading the
piece on Pastoral Communication I
felt that priests tend to become ad-
ministrators and managers and not
Obama’s Presidency
Thanks to A.J. Philip for the
fine analysis of Obama’s one
shepherds! This article and the one year at White House. However,
on Ruchika imply that good com- the author completely left out
munication can handle all prob- some areas of dissention like
lems. I wonder if that alone will that of the medical Insurance.
work! What about truth, charity, the On the whole it provided inter-
role of being Catholic? Evaluations esting an enlightening reading.
of Obama’s Presidency steadfastly Hope to see COMPANION
avoided the effect of the Catholic soar heights in quality and
Church and Pro life campaigning quantity.
on the Health care Bill. I do not Cajetan Lopez, Goa
know of any similar precedent
where the Catholic Church has
an innovative venture. All encour-
stood up to Caesar on his turf. The
agement from our side! Well done! Healthy Competition
modern generation is cognitively My sincere congratulations for
far more capable than its parents Christopher Lakra SJ
ISI, Delhi bringing out the colourful issue
and needs to be told the truth. So of Companion. It looks just
COMPANION should not avoid Reader Friendly great. Keep up the good work
thorny issues. Catholics have to Congratulations for taking up this and may it see many hundreds
be leaders in society respected for new venture. The magazine is quite of issues and eventually not
their ethics before they can hope to reader-friendly. The content is use- only flowering into a wonder-
be the leaven they are called to be. ful and the lay out attractive. I liked ful magazine but also giving a
I wish that the editor of this new best the ‘Top Ten”. The articles on healthy competition to the other
magazine takes the responsibility Obama as well as that on Ruchika- publications.
to ensure that there is no scope for Rathore are very relevant. Could Dominic Emmanuel SVD
ambiguity, which is seen in some you offer something more - arti- Delhi
Catholic magazines. cles/reports on a variety of themes,
Ralph Coelho issues, etc. focusing on the society Values of Jesus
e-mail as a whole? Logos is good but may You have got an impressive
need to cater to all 3 rites in the list of Contributors, who truly
Top Ten Topped represent the current academic,
I liked ‘Top Ten’ the most. You course of time. The film review
on ‘3 Idiots’ is well done. More on theological, religious and social
have shown great smartness in trends in India. I assure you of
selecting the headlines. Hope you media, especially channel highlights
would be appreciated. my continued support. I look
succeed to maintain the high forward to a sustained focus on
quality. Shaji Kochuthara CMI
B’lore the theme of communication
Keerthy Thomas, in the subsequent issues. This
Mumbai Logos unmatched may be possible, if the Editorial
New Gospel ways I liked the ‘Logos’ in your maga- sets the tone for what lies ahead.
Congratulations to Companion for zine. It has some particular and I am convinced that Compan-
highlighting the “Birds of the Air”, personal conversation directed to ion will be a leading means of
who really live the Gospel spirit the heart. I have read many reflec- communicating the values and
of service and simplicity. I have tions on Sunday readings but this is principles of the Gospel of
known quite a number of them unique. I like to subscribe to Com- Jesus - love, hope, dignity, justice
and have always been inspired by panion. God bless your work. and honour.
their selfless commitment. One day Sr. Ancy John Fr. John Crasta,
I happened to see three of them Bangalore Ranchi
carry an elderly man, crouched on
the roadside in pouring rain. I hope Send your Letters to: companionindia@gmail.com
this new magazine will bring to us
more stories of Christian heroism. SMART COMPANION INDIA
Danny Pereira Kalpaka Bangalow Perumanoor P.O.
N.Delhi Thevara Jn.Kochi Kerala - 680 215, India.
Excellent idea Call & SMS 094476 79783/ 097452 15467
This magazine is an excellent idea,

creative celebrations

Bible Enthroned
in Homes
Community celebrations of important and the Parish Priest or the Bishop them a concrete sign of his real
events in spiritual life help advance holding the Bible high in his hands. presence. The Words of the Scrip-
Christian formation. This column aims A cross, the parish and diocesan ture become a “quasi-sacramental
at presenting such celebrations - exist- flags, and a garland of flowers to be sign” of the Lord’s presence.”
placed around the Bible after the en- Fr. Dominic Gomes, Director of
ing practices as also novel initiatives thronement are carried along. The the Diocesan Commission for Faith
- to the larger audience. Mail your ex- procession stops at intervals for aar- Formation believes that Bible en-
periences, together with pictures ti pooja of the Holy Bible. Special thronement and Gospel sharing in
to:companionindia@yahoo.com prayers, alternating with hymns of the Basic Christian Communities
praise, enhance the spiritual atmo- results in the Scripture becoming a
sphere. The procession ends inside natural and integral part of everyday
A s evening falls, a small crowd
gathers around a tiny house in a
bustee on the outskirts of Kolkata.
the house with the enthronement
of the Bible. A solemn proclama-
tion of the Word and a reflection
life. Mr. Samersh, a BCC anima-
tor, expresses similar sentiment by
phrasing it as the deepening of the
The band players and the drumbeat- on it by the celebrant follows. The Bible experience from the head-lev-
ers suggest a celebration: a birth, a shouts of praise to God and His el to the heart-level. For Mrs. Sandra
marriage, or a funeral? Noticing Word mark the end. Singh, a social worker, “This experi-
the centrepiece of the celebration, The enthroned Bible remains ex- ence helps us connect the Word to
a hardbound Book in embroidered posed displaying select passages of our daily life.”
cloth covering, mounted on a small
table covered with white satin and
displayed in the open courtyard, the
curious passers-by move on. But,
for the family, it is a great occasion.
The diocesan faith-education team
has come to enthrone the Bible in
their home.
An enthroned Bible is a common
sight in our Churches today. And
why not replicate this in homes?
The Calcutta Archdiocese has been
enthroning the Bible in individual
parishes and families in fulfilment
of their aspirations to be “Doers
of the Word”. The Word of God
thereby becomes the centre of the
families and their lives. The inspira- the day for members to read and re- According to Sr. Christine, who
tion has come from the teachings flect. Thus, the family is constantly initiated the programme in these
of Vatican II that Jesus is present in reminded of the presence of Jesus dioceses, “A true Gospel spirituality
His Word (the Bible) as in the Eu- with them through His Word. Initi- can be the basis for the real devel-
charist. ated to this attitude of listening, the opment, both of the individuals and
The enthronement ceremony is members would unconsciously align of the community. An encounter
accompanied by a community cel- their thoughts and deeds with God’s with God through the Scripture can
ebration. Ceremonial washing of will. “We almost have the Zacchaeus enable one to discover one’s own
the celebrant’s feet, strewing the experience,” commented Suraj Bose, vocation more fully.”
procession pathway with the purify- head of a certain family. “We are not So far, in Calcutta Archdio-
ing leaves of the sal tree and danc- worthy that the Risen Lord be ever cese alone, as many as 35 parishes
ing girls carrying flowers and lighted present with us in our homes.” and hundreds of families have en-
camphor for aarti add to its solem- As Archbishop Lucas Sirkar of throned the Bible.
nity. The family moves around the Calcutta commented, “The people
house in a small procession, accom- get in touch with Jesus through his CET with input from
panied by the parish community Word. The Scripture becomes for C. Joseph (Kolkata)


10 Questions
shepherd’s voice

Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore
Interviewed by Fr. Adolf Washington
• Your greatest challenge in of the Church. The whole
the multicultural commu- world came to know of the
nity of believers in Banga- gross human rights violations
lore? in Kandhamal and also the at-
Bangalore Archdiocese tacks on our Churches.
is blessed with a mosaic of
cultures. The challenge is • Immediate steps envis-
to help every community aged in the CBCI document
recognize cultural diversity as to achieve gender equality?
a source of joy and each as a The CBCI has stressed
link in a chain of relationships on empowerment of women
that lead to the building up both in terms of participa-
of the local Church. This is a tion and in social uplift. Our
challenge to me as a spiritual Archdiocese has begun several
leader called to lead the flock. programmes for women, espe-
cially in the villages, through
• The basic motivation of the Bangalore Multi-Purpose
the antichristian rioters and and love, especially with the new members Social Service Society. Educa-
Church’s handling of the of the community. tion of the girl child is a prior-
issue? ity. Self-help groups are created
Persecution has been • Handling the Dalit issue within the in our parishes.
there always; only it takes Church and outside?
new forms in every genera- Church in India has been always • Concrete plans in your
tion. The false propaganda concerned about the Dalits and their diocese to draw capable
of certain individuals and concerns. The Church will continue to do laity in the advancement of
organizations that the Church so in the spirit of the Gospel and Christ’s the Church?
is indulging in aggressive and mandate. Opportunities are given to
forced conversions is creat- the laity in the Archdiocese to
ing suspicion and anger in the • Your response to the Right to Educa- render their talent and time
minds of the Hindus. This tion Bill? and their participation is more
leads to disharmony in the The Church has always been serving visible at the parish level. The
country. We have made our the poorest in the remotest areas of the Regional Catholic Council of
stand clear both in media and country through her educational institu- Karnataka gives prominence
Judiciary (Justice Somashekara tions. The Right to Education Bill can for Laity and involves them in
Commission). At the local certainly contribute to inclusive education planning and decision making.
Church, Christians must of all.
work zealously to build up • Need to take a new direc-
good rapport with our Hindu • What about minority rights? tion with regard to the
brothers and sisters. The criteria of 30 percent minority Church’s style of function-
presence for granting minority status go ing and witnessing?
• Pastoral implications re- against the constitutional rights. In a coun- Every crisis poses a new
conversion of Christians to try where there are 2.5% Christians how challenge to the Church in
Hinduism? can anyone say that one should have 30% India to adapt herself to the
Religion has to do with the to claim minority rights? changing times and situations.
heart and personal convic- The persecutions in Karna-
tions and can never be forced • As a courageous defender of faith, taka, for example, led us to the
upon. The Constitution of your opinion about Church’s PR formation of the Karnataka
India guarantees Freedom of management in crises situations like United Christians Forum for
Religion. Then, it is obvious Kandhamal, Ruchika issue, attacks on Human Rights (KUCFHR).
that the Constitution should Churches etc? It works to prevent discord
see forced re-conversion as a The Church has spoken Truth to between Christian denomina-
violation of such a freedom. Power. The Church has responded well to tions and to promote peace
Pastorally, each of us should the crisis. Succour and relief came in from and harmony between people
strengthen our bonds of faith every corner of the country on the appeal of different Faiths.


neWs

1 2 3 4

1 global Women Religious Meet
Rome
The five-day meeting of International Union of Gen-
eral Superiors from 800 congregations across the French director Xavier Beauvois, won the event’s second
world was held in Rome from May 7- 11. The con- highest honour. The film is centred on the true story of
cluding Eucharistic celebration reflected the tone of seven French Cistercian monks who were taken hostage
the meeting. The entire assembly swayed together in and murdered by Islamic fundamentalists in 1996. Though
music and dance accompanied by the beat of African the monks were told to return to their native France, they
drums. Fr. Eusebio Hernandez Sola and Fr. Antonio refused and chose to remain in the conflict-torn region
Pernia, celebrants, found themselves unusually flanked of the Algerian mountains, knowing that they would be
by four women on each side. Father Pernia stepped martyred. In the film, the seven men build strong friend-
aside just before the final blessing, requested by the ships with their surrounding community and live in relative
UISG President, Notre Dame Sister Maureen Cusick. peace until conflict arises between the local government
The participants were then asked to bless each other and extremist groups. “The deep humanity of the monks,
placing one’s right hand on the shoulder of the per- their respect for Islam and their generosity towards their
son next to her. As Father Sola reached for the micro- village neighbours constitutes the reason for our choice,”
phone the large room grew quiet. “This had been a stated the festival jury who issued the award.
huge grace for me,” he said overcoming his perplexity

4
at this unwarranted ‘newness’. “Thank you for shar-
ing your hopes, dreams and difficulties with me.” With Nun Excommunicated
movements of conversion within them they went U.S.A.
away “with their heads high”. Mercy Sister Margaret Mary McBride who concurred
New English Translation in an ethics committee’s decision to abort the child of

2
a gravely ill woman at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix
of the Roman Missal was “automatically excommunicated by that action,” ac-
cording to Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix. The
Vatican foetus was 11 weeks old. The woman, mother of four
The completely revised Roman Catholic Missal is children, was suffering from pulmonary hypertension. In
officially released by the Church. The new missal a May 17 letter to Bishop Olmsted top officials at Catholic
is expected to arrive for daily use by Advent 2011. Healthcare West wrote, “If there had been a way to save
The response to the celebrant’s “The Lord be with the pregnancy and still prevent the death of the mother,
you” is being changed as “And with your spirit”. we would have done it”. But the Bishop holds that an
Words in the Gloria, Creed and other significant unborn child’s life is as sacred as the mother’s. Sister Mar-
parts of the Mass will also be changed. In the “I garet has declined to comment on the controversy. In a
confess” it will no more be “through my own fault” letter to the editor of The Arizona Republic May 18, Dr.
but “through my fault, through my fault, through John Garvie of St. Joseph’s called Sister Margaret “the
my most grievous fault.” In the creed, “We believe” moral conscience of the hospital” and said “there is no
is changed into “I believe”. The new missal has finer defender of life at our hospital. People not involved
overlooked the post-Conciliar translation policy of in these situations should reflect and not criticize.”

5
“dynamic equivalence” in favour of a faithful ren-
dering of the original Latin liturgical text. Priests Must be Shepherds

3 Film on Martyred Monks Vatican
As the Year for Priests draws to a close, Pope Benedict
Frnace XVI said a priest’s foremost role is to be a shepherd to his
At the end the prestigious 12-day Cannes Film Fes- flock, and he asked the faithful to support their priests in
tival on Sunday, “Of Gods and Men,” a film by the their task of bringing people closer to God. At his regular


5 6 7 8 9 T P
10
8 Legionaries of Christ
Rome
On April 30th the Pope met the five bishops who con-
ducted the visitation of the Legionaries’ institutions over
the past year after the scandal related to their Founder,
Mexican-born Fr. Marcial Maciel Degollado Fr. Maciel
was a very powerful personality and a welcome guest
weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square May 26, the pope in the power circles of Vatican during his lifetime. He
said priests should follow Jesus, who he called the “su- was even acclaimed as a saint. The Commission empha-
preme shepherd of souls,” in their mission to “take care sized that they met with high degree of sincerity and
of the people of God, be teachers of the faith, animat- cooperation from the Legionaries. They encountered
ing and sustaining the community of Christians.” The many young priests who were “exemplary, honest and
pope quoted St. Augustine in pointing out that “it is a full of talent.” The Commission reported that Maciel
labour of love to graze the flocks of the Lord”. had created a “system of power” designed to hide his

6
“true crimes” and a private life “without scruples or
orthodox Patriarchs in Moscow authentic religious sentiment.” He lived a double life,
fathered children and sexually abused his seminarians.
Russia The legionaries are now invited to follow a “path of pu-
The Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholo- rification,” including a “sincere encounter” with victims
meos I of Constantinople, paid a ten day visit to the of sexual abuse inside and outside the order.

9
Russian Orthodox Church. The visit was praised by his
hosts for strengthening relations among these church- Vatican on First Synthetic Cell
es. “The more we cooperate and interact, the stronger
is our voice. And God willing we won’t be distracted Vatican
until the completion from what is most important for The successful development of a synthetic cell can have
Orthodoxy, holy unity. Patriarch Kirill, the Russian many practical applications, but the technology must be
counterpart said. The world’s largest Orthodox Church regulated, said the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore
is that of Russia. The estrangement between the two Romano. On May 20, a team of geneticists in the United
was patent, given their differences on the jurisdiction States have announced the creation of a living artificial
of Ukraine and of territories such as Estonia, split off cell. After mapping on a computer the complete DNA
from the former Soviet Union after the fall of Com- code of a bacterium, the team led by J. Craig Venter,
munism in 1989. inserted the synthesized DNA into a bacteria cell, which

7
was then able to replicate and be controlled by the syn-
Adult Stem Cells Research thetic genome. Venter claimed that synthetic cells could
be used to convert carbon dioxide into fuel or to create
New York new vaccines for treating diseases.

10
The foundations affiliated with the Pontifical Council for
Culture and NeoStem Company have decided to work Maronites’ Heritage
together to educate people about the benefits of adult North Cyprus
stem-cell research. Current medical research is focused
on two particular types of stem cells, adult stem cells and The centuries-old Maronite Catholic community in
embryonic stem cells. It provides great potential for dis- KORMAKITIS, in northern Cyprus is working to keep
covering treatments and cures to a plethora of diseases its heritage alive. The 800-year-old community of about
that have no cure now. The advantage of using adult stem a hundred mainly elderly Cypriot Maronites remained
cells is that a patient’s own cells could be used to treat a in the occupied north of Cyprus after the 1974 Turk-
patient. Risks would be quite reduced because patients’ ish invasion. Their customs, particularly their language
bodies would not reject their own cells. Embryonic stem -- a mixture of Greek, Turkish, Arabic and Syriac -- de-
cells have the advantage that unlike adult cells, they can fine their community, which is in danger of extinction.
develop into any cell types of the body. However, the use “The church is our strength,” said Giovanni Pahita, 60,
embryonic stem cells for research involve the destruction one of the youngest residents of Kormakitis. “We have
of blastocysts formed from laboratory-fertilized human nothing else.” At their peak, in the mid-1500s, Maronite
eggs, which is considered unethical by the Church. villages in Cyprus numbered 62 and hosted a popula-
tion of 80,000.

Faith a live

Role of Women Religious in the
Empowered
Women
Ilostwordcancer. Duringin 1984. He
my eldest uncle
died of his illness he
this incident to me.
I have witnessed similar incidents
sent to my father, his youngest within my family and outside. What
brother. But my father was unwilling I want to highlight is that women
to let go the earlier misunderstand- are deprived of basic human free-
ing between them. My mother’s best doms and decision-making power
efforts towards reconciliation proved even in small matters. I have not
futile. She felt extremely sad. She ex- come across a husband asking his

W omen are
made to
feel powerless
pressed her desire to go and visit him
in the hospital. But my father refused
to let her do so. She had to depend
on my father for the bus fare to the
wife’s permission to go somewhere
or to do something. But a wife can-
not move out of the house without
permission, even to visit her aged
hospital, a pittance in those days, but parents. Most women are economi-
and helpless, by still dependent on him. My mother cally dependent on their husbands.
the social system was over 50 at that time! She did Hence the possibility and the chanc-
manage to visit my uncle before his es of decision-making are curtailed
itself. death, but that is due to her persis- further. Women are thus made to
tence. I can still remember the hurt feel powerless and helpless, by the
and pain in her eyes as she narrated social system itself.


“
Gender inequality and the unequal
sharing of power are based on socio-
economic and political structures
that govern our lives. Consequently
women are deprived of decision-
making power in most areas of pub-
A majority of Indian
women are made to feel
powerless by the Manusm-
lic life. The unequal sharing of wealth ruthi dictum, at the mercy
between men and women plays a
leading role in a situation like this. of the sense of goodwill or
According to the findings of a global kindness of their fathers,
study presented at the UN Confer- husbands or sons.
ence on Women 1985, women form
51% of the world population; they
engage 66% of the world’s working come from lower economic group chief ministers in some States, and
hours; but they earn only 10% of the experience chronic malnutrition/ Corporate heads. But the situation
world’s income. Still worse, they own hunger. Frequent child bearing is yet of a large cross section of women
less than 1% of the world’s assets. another strain and she has no choice is far from satisfactory. A majority
Women also feel powerless in even in this matter. Poverty drives of Indian women are made to feel
the face of atrocities and violence many to prostitution. Studies esti- powerless by the Manusmruthi dic-
perpetrated against them. Crimes mate that there are approximately tum, at the mercy of the of good-
against women are on the increase in six to ten million women in the sex will of their fathers, husbands or
the recent past. We are accustomed industry in 817 red-light areas of sons. Where do the roots of sup-
to the yearly statistical figures with a the country. There are about two to pression and injustice lie?
strange immunity or insensitivity! In three lakh Devadasis, coming from Patriarchy seems to underlie the
low economic background, and various socio-economic, religio-
• Rape: one/6 minutes from communities considered as low cultural and political arenas shoving
castes. Domestic /sexual violence in women to subordinate positions in
• Torture: one/44 minutes the society. The culture of patri-
various forms, suspicious, unfaithful
• Dowry death: one/90 minutes or/and alcoholic husbands, dowry archy consists of all those ideas,
• Victims of domestic violence: harassment, female feticide, honour norms, traditions, beliefs and values
60 per cent killings, kidnapping and trafficking, that uphold men and downgrade
• Female foeticide:7000/day and subsequent sexual slavery in women. These ideas and beliefs are
brothels, poor healthcare, lack of transmitted from one generation to
• Man-woman ratio: 933/1000 the next, from one cultural group to
decision making power, commoditi-
addition, many women feel power- zation of women by media, etc. are another, verbally and non-verbally.
less and helpless living with hus- only a few examples of dehumaniz- Language, both spoken and written,
bands addicted to alcohol/drugs. ing women. gestures, postures, symbols, audio-
The worst victims of poverty are Indian women have reached to the visual images, art and customs are
women and children. Women who post of prime minister, President, geared to transmit such a message.

Sr M. Wilberta B.S. religious capable of empowering others?” If the answer
Superior General is in the negative we may have to seriously review our
bethanygeneralate@gmail.com systems of formation to ascertain that we do not foster
infantilism and submissiveness, suppressing creativity
H oly Father John Paul II in his
encyclical Vita Consecrata em-
phatically states that the Church fully reveals her
and growth in inner freedom.
Success of formation depends on bringing about a
change of attitudes in the formees that will make them
varied spiritual richness when she overcomes all dis- sensitive to the oppressive issues in society. Action on
crimination and welcomes as true blessing the gifts behalf of justice and women’s empowerment becomes
lavished by God upon both men and women, con- a constitutive element of preaching the Good News, af-
sidering them in their equal dignity (No.57). When ter the example of Jesus who crossed all barriers and
will this become a reality? Who is the Church? reached out in defense of women, marginalized by the
Who will implement this dream of the Holy Father society.
if not we women religious? We need to courageously confront the sinful struc-
Women religious are entrusted with hundreds tures in our communities and society that dehumanize
of educational, medical and developmental institu- women created in the image and likeness of God. The
tions that could be agents of empowerment and indigenous Congregation I belong to grew up amidst
liberation of women. Do the students, both boys great challenges, and is empowering thousands of wom-
and girls, who pass out of our institutions, possess en. This fact fills me with hope and courage that we
a sense of gender equality and gender sensitivity? can achieve much, if all the religious Congregations join
Each of us also ought to ask, “Am I an empowered hands.


theology in liFe

Having strengthened in faith you
must strengthen your sisters
Contemporary mass media channels
- newspapers, magazines, films, film Sr. Inigo Joachim SSA formation houses through aca-
songs, television programmes and Ex-Superior General demic subjects. Theology has to
advertisements, play a pivotal role in inigossa@gmail.com be interpreted from this perspec-
the transmission of stereotyped no- tive of equal dignity and equal
tions and beliefs about women and
men. For example, we seldom have T he Asian Syn- responsibility. Introduce gender
odal Fathers sensitization programmes and
were “most concerned that the feminist theology in initial and
an ad for detergent powder or wash-
ing machine where a man is shown church should be a participatory on-going formation of priests
washing clothes. In the same way, church in which no one feels ex- and religious
we don’t get a woman in decision cluded”. They “judged the wider Popularize inclusive language
taking or planning roles, investing participation of women in the in liturgy, Prayer of the Church,
for the future in various advertised mission of the Asian Church to be catechesis and homilies. Use
schemes. an especially pressing need”. They judiciously more liberating pas-
In a patriarchal social order all also acknowledged “that the con- sages about courageous biblical
social structures or institutions are tribution of
women have women. Take
based on non-participation or pe- the courage to
ripheral participation of women often been
undervalued
G et in touch with one’s announce from
in decisions and governance in the
or ignored” own patriarchal blocks! the pulpit that
family (private sphere) and society from women first. It is discrimination
(public sphere of economy, pol- (EA.34).
ity, education, media, religion and There is a women who must de- and violence
against women
civil society). Women’s experiences growing termine what a woman’s is sin.
and insights have been by and large a w a r e n e s s worth is.
today, both 1. In order
ignored, sidelined or ridiculed by to cross gen-
patriarchal cultures. Through the among men
and women regarding gender der boundaries involve women
process of gendering or socializa- justice. Women religious have in the ministry of the Procla-
tion, boys and girls are formed to realized that their empowerment mation of the Good News. A
manifest the characteristics assigned is essential for their mission. As woman’s experience of God and
to them by the society. a result, they have started giving approach to the reading and in-
This is the social situation to themselves earnestly to the study terpreting of the Word of God
which women religious are sent to of scriptures, theology and spiri- are unique.
“bring the Good news”. The Good tuality in a contextual way. More 2. Include women as co-work-
news is that God created human be- religious women are teaching in ers and co-leaders. Recognize
ings in love and conferred on them seminaries now. The result of their leadership competence
dignity. “I have made them in my positive religious formation is and intellectual and creative po-
own image and likeness. Man and being seen among younger reli- tentialities and not use or allow
woman I made them.” Women’s em- gious who come out as assertive, them to be used for backstage
powerment has to start with women open and straightforward. services of the sacristy, house
themselves. The factors that cause It is a sacred duty to become management and kitchen only.
women’s oppression being many, aware of the original plan of To add insult to injury they are
we need a multi-pronged approach. God regarding humans: “He not paid or paid unjustly for
Already women’s groups across the made them in His image and their services.
country are doing much in this di- likeness – man and woman He 3. Get in touch with one’s
rection. Over a lakh of women re- made them.” own patriarchal blocks! Change
ligious in this country too can join Give awareness to both men should start from women first.
with such groups towards positive and women because gender sen- A truly mature and liberated
action. Being brought up in patriar- sitivity is not a woman issue only, woman must also be educated,
chal cultures, women religious too but a human and a spiritual one economically independent. She
have internalized the values of the as well. Produce and disseminate should have the courage to share
patriarchal system. The first step the literature on gender related the wisdom and stand for truth,
towards empowerment would be issues among partners, church justice and peace.
that religious become an empow- bodies, seminaries, schools and
ered group, through processes and Congregations. Ultimately, it is women who
programmes that would help them Create awareness about in the must determine what a woman’s
to come out of patriarchal condi- worth is.

Women Religious can create new
tioning and belief system. Evils
awareness among women and men
Joseph Mattam SJ • Abandoning the wrong idea of
that are perpetuated over centuries Systematic theology priesthood gives the Church a
cannot be got rid off with isolated joemattam@jesuits.net
chance to become a community
efforts or minor plastic surgeries.
Quite a number of women reli-
gious are involved in the empower-
ment of women across the coun-
T he first thing of sisters/brothers who would
required to serve one another using the
charism each has.
empower women in the Church • Women religious (and lay), who
try through the formation of Self is to recognize that the present have theological/ scriptural/ psy-
Help Groups (SHG). Such groups male dominated hierarchical sys- chological competence should
provide women opportunities to tem is not from Jesus, but the form associations of ‘think-tanks’
work as a collective force which invasion of the Church of the in the Church, and help empower
builds their self confidence. More poor Galilean by the Empire. others who tend to be satisfied
women religious need to take up • The wrong interpretation of with the status quo. Such groups
the work of organizing women Mary as the humble handmaid will have to help to bring about
and mobilizing them to demand is being used to domesticate a new form of leadership in the
their basic human rights and to re- women, to Church, ac-
sist atrocities that are perpetrated make them cording to
against them.
Once empowered, women reli-
s u b m i s s ive, G irls in our schools should Jesus.
non ques- be given correct notions of • Women
gious can promote an alternative tioning, non gender equality and dignity should explic-
understanding of life through the critical, and itly use inclu-
various ministries they are involved self effacing of women so that the mother sive language;
in. They can help people to identify ‘handmaids’ in law perpetuation of male train girls for
and eliminate patriarchal attitudes, of priests, ac- domination is counteracted such usage.
promote co-operation, interdepen- cepting the For example,
dence, mutuality in relationship,
resolving conflicts through con- status quo as God’s will. God is “Our Mother/Father”.
sensus, etc. through formal and • Recognize the evil effects of • Women should organize them-
non-formal education. In a situa- the negative attitude towards selves to resist exploitation by
tion where battered women have women promoted by some of priests; they should not leave any
no place to go, it is necessary that the Fathers of the Church. case of exploitation, over domi-
religious take up such ministries • Reinforce a new theology that neering attitude unchallenged.
as running ‘Temporary shelter fosters the neglected feminine • Girls in our schools should be
homes’ and opening ‘counselling characteristics of God, Jesus of- given correct notions of gender
centres’ with skilled personnel to ten highlighted. equality, dignity of women, so
offer help to the needy women. In • Recognise that Christian wom- that the mother in law perpetua-
order to free women and men from en do not want power of the type tion of male domination is coun-
patriarchal enslavement, religious that has evolved in the Church teracted
can conduct workshops for various over the centuries; they want to • Help priests change their pres-
groups in schools, parishes, social share the power Jesus given to all ent self understanding and go
work centres etc. Education is the his followers without distinction back to the servant model of Je-
key to change and development. of gender (I Cor 12). sus in the NT.
Religious can make use of the
‘Right to Education’ hosted by the Since religion play an important can develop alternative rituals and
Central Government to bring every role in legitimizing and perpetuating practices that enhance women’s
girl child to the avenues of knowl- the subjugation of women it is im- humanity, ensure their dignity, and
edge. In fact, knowledge is power portant that women religious learn promote their well being.
and right knowledge is liberating to look critically at religion, religious
power. The first step in the process Scriptures, spirituality and theology
is the awakening of consciousness. from the experience of women and
Religious need to take steps joining reinterpret these so that woman’s
with other agencies to challenge full humanity is affirmed and her
oppressive structures operating at human rights protected. Women re-
various levels, viz., mental/indi- ligious can create forums for wom- Dr. Shalini Mulackal
vidual, domestic, social, cultural, en to share their experiences and Vidyajyoti, Delhi
economic, political, religious etc. build solidarity among them. They smulackal@gmail.com


vatican trends

Pedophilia
Shakes Vatican
N o other issue has vexed the
Catholic Church in the recent
years as much as that of paedophilia.
The Us bishops’
Conference says:
l These laws are the Motu Proprio
Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela (MP
SST) of 30 April 2001 together with
Accusations of pedophilia among the 1983 Code of Canon Law.
the catholic clergy in the US have Sexual molestation l The first step in the procedure
been reported since the eighties. of handling a reported paedophile
Of late, similar outbursts of accu- is about the victim. case consists of preliminary investiga-
sations have emerged from around
the world. Its repercussions have Persons who ac- tions. The local ordinary has to initiate
it. He then transmits all the necessary
reached the threshold of the Vati- cess children must information to the CDF and expresses
can accusing the Pope of not doing his opinion on the procedures to be
enough to handle Pedophile priests be screened. Com- followed and the measures to be ad-
when he was the Prefect of the Con- opted.
gregation for Faith (1981-2005). The mon sense is not
l The Civil law concerning report-
Church was caught in a storm by the all that common. ing of crimes to the appropriate au-
onslaught of non catholic media. In thorities should always be followed.
a ‘many voices and half truth’ situa- Child sexual abuse During the period of investigation, the
tion, the Church was caught on the bishop takes precautionary measures
defensive. But the shockwave worked can be prevented. to safeguard the community, including
and a lot is being done now to re-
gain the lost credibility and undo the The residual effects the victims. The local bishop has pow-
er to protect children by restricting the
damage caused by nonprofessional of having been activities of any priest in his diocese.
statements from Vatican’s top au- l The CDF studies each case it re-
thorities. The ‘Guide to Understand- abused can last a ceives in detail The CDF may authorize
ing Basic CDF Procedures’ released
by the Vatican is hoped to help in lifetime. You can- the local bishop to conduct a judicial
penal trial before a local Church tri-
the process of handling Paedophile not always predict bunal. Any appeal in such cases would
cases. A clerical abuse inquiry panel eventually be lodged to a tribunal of
to Ireland to deal with Sexual Abuse who will be an the CDF. The accused priest is called
Allegations is the latest step taken to respond to the accusations and to
by Benedict XV1. At the closing of abuser. There are
review the evidence.
the Year for priests on June 11th, behavioral warning l The accused has a right to present
the Pope said “in this year of joy for recourse to the CDF against a decree
the sacrament of the priesthood, the signs of child abus- condemning him to a canonical pen-
sins of priests came to light - par- alty. Dismissal from the clerical state
ticularly the abuse of the little ones, ers. People can be would be the most serious penalty to
in which the priesthood, whose task
is to manifest God’s concern for our taught to identify a culprit. In cases where the accused
priest has admitted to his crimes and
good, turns into its very opposite.” grooming behav- has accepted to live a life of prayer and
The Pope has taken care to admit the penance, the CDF authorizes the local
‘sin’ within the Church, to ask for- iour. Background bishop to issue a decree prohibiting or
giveness of the people of God. He
promised to do “everything possi- checks can facili- restricting him from public ministry.
(The details regarding these norms can be availed
ble” to prevent priests from abusing tate child safety. at:
children. The following is a summary www.vatican.va/resources_guide
of the Vatican’s Legal Code for han- Refer details at =CDF-procedures_en.html )
dling Paedophiles by the Congrega- http://www.usccb.org/ocyp/
tion for Doctrine and Faith (CDF). Vatican Observer

inspiration

God Never Fails
A beautiful story from a doctor who worked in Africa.

O ne night I had worked hard
to help a mother in the la-
bour ward; but in spite of all we
there are limits, aren’t there? I had
been in Africa for almost four years
now and had never, ever received
I cried.
I had not asked God to send it or
truly believed that He could. Ruth
could do, she died, leaving us with a parcel from home. If anyone did was in the front row of the children.
a tiny, premature baby and a crying send one now, who will put in a hot She rushed forward, crying out, “If
two-year-old daughter. We would water bottle? I lived on the equa- God has sent the bottle, He must
have difficulty in keeping the baby tor!! have sent the dolly, too!” Rummag-
alive as we had no incubator (we had Halfway through the afternoon, a ing down to the bottom of the box,
no electricity to run an incubator). message came that there was a car at she pulled out the small, beautifully-
We also had no special feeding fa- my front door. By the time I reached dressed doll. Her eyes shone! She
cilities. So we wrapped the baby in home, the car had gone, but there had never doubted! Looking up at
cotton wool and kept her in a box. on the veranda was a large 22 pound me, she asked: “Can I go over with
We looked for a hot water bag but parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. you and give this dolly to that little
the last one had burst open. Neither I sent for the orphanage children. girl, so she’ll know that Jesus really
was there a drug store down the for- Together we pulled off the string, loves her?” “Of course,” I replied!
est pathways. carefully undoing each knot. Excite- That parcel had been on the way
“All right,” I said, “put the baby as ment was mounting. Some thirty or for five whole months, packed up
near the fire as you safely can, and forty pairs of eyes were focused on by my former Sunday School class,
sleep between the baby and the door the large cardboard box. whose leader had heard and obeyed
to keep it free from draughts. Your
job is to keep the baby warm.”
The following noon, I went to
have prayers with the children in
our orphanage. I told them about
the tiny baby. I explained our prob-
lem about keeping the baby warm
enough, mentioning the hot water
bottle. I also told them of the two-
year-old sister, crying because her
mother had died.
During prayer time, one ten-year-
old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual
blunt conciseness of our African
children. “Please, God,” she prayed,
“send us a hot water bottle today.
It’ll be no good tomorrow, God, as From the top, I lifted out brightly- God’s prompting to send a hot wa-
the baby will be dead; so please send coloured, knitted jerseys. Eyes spar- ter bottle, even to the equator. And
it this afternoon.” While I gasped in- kled as I gave them out. Then there one of the girls had put in a doll
wardly at the audacity of the prayer, were the bandages for the leprosy for an African child - five months
she added, “And while You are about patients, and the children looked before, in answer to the believing
it, would You please send a dolly for a little bored. Then came a box of prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it
the little girl so she’ll know You love mixed raisins and sultanas - that “that afternoon.” “Before they call,
her?” would make a batch of buns for the I will answer.” (Isaiah 65:24)
Could I honestly say, “Amen”? I weekend. Then, as I put my hand in
just did not believe that God could again, I felt the.....could it really be?
do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can I grasped it and pulled it out. Yes, a When you’re down to Nothing,
do everything; the Bible says so. But brand new, rubber hot water bottle. God is up to Something


regional Focus

Knocked Out
in Kandhamal?
Could the Church have behaved differently in the face of
its worst challenge in contemporary history?

T he Collector, or District Mag-
istrate, of the Kandhamal
district of Orissa is a suave
young officer of the Indian Admin-
istrative Service who excels in pub-
lic relations, even if I may fault him
on being lax on his basic duties of
maintaining law and order and su-
pervising development in his area of
work.
The Collector has almost con-
vinced the European Union, sundry
members of the Indian Parliament,
and even a few senior members of
the Missionaries of Charity of the
Catholic Church, that the violence
of August-December 2008 was root-
ed just in issues of land and “false”
scheduled tribe certificates fraudu-
lently got by some Dalit officials. He
has even convinced them that ab-
solute peace has now been restored
and most, if not all, of the displaced
have been rehabilitated with gainful
employment. His greatest coup has
been in stressing that once the jus-
tice process is over, the rate of con-

W hile the writ of
the Central and
State governments
viction of those guilty will be higher
and better than that in Gujarat where
the process is now being supervised
by no less than the Supreme Court
did not run in Kand- of India through several recent or-
ders.
hamal for more than Add to that, the exercise by his
a month mobocracy boss Navin Patnaik, the Chief Minis- Minister.
and Hindutva ruled ter of the State, and you have senior The few Christian leaders singing
Christians in Bhubaneswar singing praises of the government can be
supreme. his praises. They even chastise civil exposed as men who have joined the
society and human rights activists ruling political party, the Biju Janata
for hounding two such fine gentle- Dal, in the hope of future office,
men as the Collector and the Chief or have been actually offered some

administrative sop. But the Collector’s success is built on the collective minister, and the many ministers of
failure of the Church in all its denominations, the naiveté of clerics and the Bharatiya Janata parity, failed to
religious, and the scarce civil society that exists in Orissa. act, and possibly in some cases, en-
It is obvious the Church and the community, the actual victims, have sured that there was no hindrance
all but lost the public relations battle. Unlike Muslims who suffered in in the path of the violence.
Gujarat in 2002 under Narendra Modi, and the Sikhs who were mas- Issues of impunity, command
sacred in the aftermath of the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984, responsibility and “the buck stops
the Christians of Kandhamal may even lose the legal war if they do not here” thesis are yet to be asked by
watch out. There are lessons to be learnt fast if ever there is going to be a the Church or by civil society in
hope for lasting peace in the district to be established through reconcili- Orissa. This in fact has been the
ation, justice, employment and reconstruction. first major failure of the Church.
No one has really been able to challenge the Kandhamal Collector Delegations of fully robed Bishops
by reminding him of a simple fact – he was very much in office when to the President, the Prime Minis-
the violence broke out. The Collector was present when VHP leader ter, and the Union Home Minister
Lakshmanananda’s body was being paraded by the Sangh Parivar, and or even to Mrs Sonia Gandhi are
at one stage, had been put near the Catholic Church in Phulbani, which actually useless in getting precipi-
tate action on the ground. Being
able to jam Delhi’s roads for a day
or two, or block a trunk railway
line, are more affective in focus-
sing public attention.
After the violence of Christmas
2007, Archbishop Cheenath in fact
wrote some sort of a manual on
how Church personnel should re-
spond in case they are victims of
communal violence. But the mag-
nitude of the August 2008 phase
of violence was beyond what was
dreamt of in the Archbishop’s
worthwhile handbook. His ad-
monition to the priests, nuns and
faithful to save their lives rather
than confront killer gangs to save
a brick and mortar Church, may
have saved thousands from being
massacred.
But the real recourse is to law,
and the buck stops with the Su-
preme Court of India. This we
have repeatedly seen in issues af-
fecting not just religious minori-
ties, but other issues of the mar-
ginalised groups. Moved by strong
writs, the Court has acted strongly.
The Church, or rather, Archbishop
Raphael Cheenath single-handedly
and successfully moved the Su-
preme Court of India through Hu-
man Rights Law Network counsel
Colin Gonsalves to bring relief
was then attacked by the mob even as the parish priest looked on in fear to the victims in refugee camps
before escaping with dear life. In many ways then, while the writ of the and the forest in 2008, which this
Central and State governments did not run in Kandhamal for more than same Collector had banned. Yet,
a month, and mobocracy and Hindutva ruled supreme. Central police the community could not get the
forces could not enter the dense forests where roads had been blocked Court to order the State govern-
off by trees felled in a well planned manoeuvre. The Collector, and his ment to act strongly on the issue
final bosses in Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister who was also the Home of law, order and justice. It should


regional Focus

perhaps have been tried even before
the matter of relief. There are ample
provisions in the Constitution to
bring a State government to its knees. Kandhamal - A Caution for
Prevention and Action
In actuality, the Chief Minister still
remains un-admonished, and no one
charted his movements when Kand-
hamal burned.
The situation was grim. And the fi- Sr. Mary Scaria such occurrences of communal
nal toll was not minor. Fifty-five thou- Advocate, Supreme Court clashes. How? Constitute a re-
sand or more persons were homeless, maryscaria@gmail.com
most for close to a year, 400 villages source body of experts (think
tank) who will constantly moni-
A
had been torched, 300 of them toll people, tor and inform the apex bodies
tally cleansed of Christians; 5,600 ir respec- who in turn make adequate re-
houses destroyed, perhaps 296 or so
Churches torched. The Government tive of their religious affiliations sponses. Prepare our youth to
is still refusing to believe a body count must understand the danger of take up leadership roles in poli-
of over 95, sticking to a figure of 38 communal fascism to the very tics, judiciary and bureaucracy.
to minimise the fatalities, and to save basic conceptual foundations of Foster lay leadership accepting
a rupee or two by way of compensa- Indian secular democracy. With their wisdom and experience.
tion. Above all, Christians were forced the slogan of ‘one nation, one Include human rights, basic laws,
to convert to Hinduism under coer- culture and one religion’, the
cive force, violating the state’s own communal outfits try to do away peace and reconciliation, gender
laws against forcible or fraudulent justice and equality and self de-
conversion. On issues of justice, the with the rich traditions of Indian fence in the formation syllabus.
State government resisted tooth and multiculturalism and revert the Form ‘neighbourhood commu-
nail, the transfer of the trial of the Indian Republic Democracy to nities’ with people belonging
nun’s rapists to the neutral grounds Brahmanic dictatorial monarchy. to all religious affiliations and
of Cuttack. It also stopped European This is a meticulously planned walks of life. Form ‘peace clubs’
delegations and others from seeing and executed agenda. The Church in villages, schools and parishes.
for themselves the kind of justice that was caught unaware and perhaps Have common celebrations of
was being meted out in the so called was horrified. So, timely and rele- festivals. Set up cultural centres
fast track courts. Their record – in vant responses to such eventuali-
ten cases of death by murder, not one ties of hatred and vengeance did where anybody can walk in and
person convicted! No accountability have discussions and delibera-
of the investigative agencies, much not come through. tions on issues to clarify misun-
less of the prosecution! What I sensed on the ground derstandings.
Church and civil society also made was that the response from the Adopt simple life style. Raise
other mistakes from the beginning. Church was very weak. With our voices and act adequately
Some Dalit NGOs – which do not shepherds away, the sheep scat- against human rights violations
openly support the cause of Dalit tered. Many of the pastors left for in any quarter. Church should
Christians, by the way – jumped into safe places out of fear. It is cred- feel the pain of all sections being
the fray, painting what was a persecu- itable that the women religious attacked, and be proactive. As St.
tion of Christians as some sort of a stuck to the guns. In the forest
tribal war on Dalits. There are about where they took refuge with the Paul puts rightly, we are the body
as many Dalits who are Christian in of Christ, therefore, a greater re-
Kandhamal as there are tribals, and people, some of them got sick sponsibility is cast upon us to take
both were among the victims. The ag- and a few died of Malaria. care of our sisters and brothers
gressors were also Tribals and Dalits The lesson we learned is that through our responsibility. Real-
under Hindutva tutelage. What the we need more preparedness. The ize that success is not final, fail-
NGOs did by their statements was CBCI and the CRI should plan ure is not fatal: it is the courage
that, they also helped divert attention out ways and means to prevent to continue that counts.....
away from Hindutva violence. This
in turn strengthened unwittingly the and were now stealing their jobs using fake certificates. There needs to
government propaganda that the vio- be a White Paper by the government in issues of land, forests and caste,
lence, as a result of tribal anger against a demand that the government is resisting with all its might!
Dalits, who had usurped their lands, The Church also lacked, and continues to lack, solidarity, not just inter-


denominational unity, but even co-
hesiveness within denominations.
Only Cardinal Telesphore Toppo
of Ranchi, the former president of
the Catholic Bishops Conference of
India, and Archbishop Thomas Me-
naparampil of Guwahati, came to
Kandhamal in the early months of
the violence. It took great courage
on their part, and they made an im-
pact. For the rest, the Church lead-
ership paid no more than lip service.
Some even took part in the so called
“dialogues” with the RSS, just to
be humiliated in Bhubaneswar and
elsewhere.
The Laity was more active. The
dioceses of Mumbai, Delhi and
baked camps run by some religious

I
Goa were the biggest contributors t is still not too late
of money for relief. But there has groups for counselling.
been no long term show of solidar- for a review and a The government will have to be
ity or persistence for justice, as peo- course correction on all forced through juridical instruments
ple have shown in the case of the to do its duty responsibly, with pro-
fronts- solidarity at the bity and by addressing impunity.
Gujarat antiMuslim pogroms and
the massacre of the Sikhs in 1984. grassroots and battle in This requires great preparation. This
The Church participation in the courts. is the lesson learnt by an empow-
grassroots issues in recent years has ered group of religious with a law
shrivelled considerably. This has be- background who toured Gujarat,
come apparent in its utter absence We need to admit our mistakes Maharashtra and Delhi, met senior
in the three year long debate on the and accept the need for corrective jurists and the top brass of NGOs
Bill against Communal violence, or action. The Church must show clear and moving forces behind civil so-
the discussion on the forthcoming signs of unity, and Kandhamal must ciety groups, and have come to the
Equality Commission Bill. It is also be first put back on the agenda of conclusion that a serious effort has
nowhere in the Minority discourse the Church at all levels – theological to be made afresh to bring Kandha-
unless it is in protecting its manage- and faith dimensions. There is need mal to the centre stage and on the
ment rights in running educational to diversify evangelisation to other consciousness and conscience of
institutions, especially English lan- districts so that Kandhamal does the nation, the community and the
guage urban schools. The result has not seem like the solitary centre of Church.
been a sharp isolation from the civil Christianity in Orissa. Some of the activists in this
rights and human dignity move- Legal energies must be redirected group include Bro. Varghese Th-
ments, the mass agitations against in collaboration with civil soci- eckanath S.G, the former president
displacement, land rights and the ety. We need a war chest to pursue of the Conference of Religious in
government auctioning off hills and justice. It is expensive business to India, Fr. Ajay Singh, and Fr. Dibya
mountains to mining interests and get senior jurists to come to the Parichha of Kandhamal, Sr Sheeba
corporate lobbies. Supreme Court in pursuit of hon- Jose of Allahabad, Sr. Julie George
The media could have been some est justice, as much as it takes legal and Sr Helen, SSpS, of Pune and a
help, but the Church must do some labour to get a Special Investiga- handful of others. The Church now
introspection why satellite televi- tive Team for some genuine probe must support their efforts in the do-
sions and major newspaper chains into the murders and the arson. main of faith and in the realm of
do not come to its help. Church Above all, it will take joint action by the law.
PROs have been a dismal failure to think tanks, by the CBCI and other
Churches and by civil society to re- John Dayal
speak for the community’s pain and
injury. It is still not too late for a mid start the process which will ensure President, All India Catholic
course review, and a course correc- a just peace. It is important to build Union; Secretary General, All
India Christian Council ,
tion on all fronts – the legal one, the houses and give employment to the Freedom of Faith and Civil
solidarity at the grassroots and the people. This cannot be done by the Rights’ activist.
battle in the courts. types involved in the effete and half


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