CASTE AND THE INDIAN CHURCH
The Roman Catholic Church in India is neither Roman nor Catholic. It is Indian. Can the Indian Roman Catholic Church rise above the historical, social and economic chains of the Indian caste system to establish a truly egalitarian role of the Church in India today? On July 5, 2015 UCA NEWS - subtitled - Asia's Most Trusted Independent Catholic News Source - a report appeared which said there are separate seating arrangements in church for Dalits and others. Is this true? Caste is not a part of Christianity so what is the explanation for this kind of behavior towards the low caste people in the Indian Roman Catholic Church? While there are a total of nine bishops from two hundred in India who are Dalits, and I was impressed with the statistics until I discovered Dalit Christians account for 70% of the total Roman Catholic Church in India; their representation however among the Indian Roman Church leadership is only 4-5 percent. It is believed the Dalit Christian Liberation Movement has submitted a complaint at the UN Information Centre for India and Bhutan in Delhi. Why does the Indian Roman Catholic Church discriminate against Dalits or so-called untouchables? Do they have to be reminded of Jesus Christ's words : And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Has the leadership rejected Jesus Christ's teaching? While the present Pope speaks of the importance of being a poor Church, does the incredibly wealthy Roman Çatholic Church around the world and in India have a different idea? Is Jesus Christ relevant today? Is the Roman Catholic Church the Antichrist? Is Jesus Christ nothing more than a mascot? The news of separate cemeteries for Christian Dalits is shocking and obviously there is a crisis in the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church in India. The bishops of the Church need to speak sincerely and clearly on the issue of separate cemeteries and separate seating arrangements for Dalits. If it is not true, say so. And, if it is true, say so, too.
