What should the Catholic Church need to do to assist Indian Catholics : 1. Setup alcohol de-addiction camps in every parish and provide free anti-alcohol medicines. 50% of the problems of Catholics will be solved if they stop drinking alcohol.
2. Warn the Mangalorean Konkani Catholics and the Kerala Malyalee Catholics that their various linguistic based associations is a threat to the unity of catholics in India. 3. Provide financial assistance to Catholic Activist’s. provide moral support to those farmers/tribals/fisherfolks whose livelihood is under threat from certain lobbies. Educate the City folks the need to protect Openspaces & Greenzones from being encroached by the slumlords, builders, mafia, muncipality and politicians. 4. To avoid Persecution from the Hindus some Catholics in India are operating with Hindu names. Let the Bishops in India issue a statement on what is their opinion on those catholics who are operating with hindu names. Should the catholics with hindu names be considered cowards ? 5. Demand reservations in Govt. Jobs for ALL Catholics. 6. Review present conversion activities of Catholic missionaries. Make absolutely certain that NO form of coercion is utilized. 7. Re-introduce Latin in the core section of the Mass. 8. Stay absolutely clear of partisan politics. It should however support good decisions of the civil authorities with the same hand it criticizes the unfair decisions. 9. Advise the seminarians and priests about the slick infiltration techniques employed by the highly skilled 'debaters' among the Hindu fundamentalists. 10. Continue the exemplary work in the field of education, health care and care of the disadvantaged especially poor catholics. 11. Utilize vacant church properties for the housing needs of poor catholics. 12. Reserve 50% seats in catholic schools, colleges, institutions for catholics. 13. Further involve the laity in the running of the Church. India is a country of over a billion people. About 16 ( 1.6 crore ) million of these are Roman Catholics. There are a few million of other Christian denominations and Buddhist and a significant number of Muslims, but the vast majority (83%) of people in India are Hindus (Brahmans, (highest) priests and scholars, Kshatriyas, (next) nobles and warriors, Vaisyas, (next) farmers and merchants & Sudras, (lowest) serfs and slaves ). Only Hindus practice the caste system; it is abandoned if a Hindu becomes a Mohammedan or a Christian. Hinduism espouses the division of people into hierarchically placed groups called “castes”. These castes are placed in a stepladder of ascending superiority and descending inferiority. People who are born into these castes should follow the ordained caste professions and marry only within their caste through arranged marriages. The beneficiaries of this system were the various Brahman castes who by virtue of their birth were free to follow intellectual pursuits at the advent of British colonial education making them modern India’s intellectual, scientific, and bureaucratic class. The various “Vysya” (trading) castes, placed below the Brahman castes and the Royal (“Kshatriya”) castes, have enjoyed the monopoly in trading activities for centuries, by virtue of their birth, thus becoming modern India’s corporate and business class. The “Shudras” are the various lower castes in the hierarchy who are considered as Hindus and members of caste Hindu society. Hinduism came to India with the arrival of the Aryans from Persia some 2500 years ago. The Aryans formed a caste system in order to maintain the purity of their blood and to maintain supremacy. Islam came to India with the arrival of the Arabs. Roman Catholicism came to India with the arrival of the Portuguese in 1497 although christianity in western coast of India came with the arrival Apostle St. Thomas & Apostle St. Bartholomew some time in AD 40. What & How the original inhabitants of India first worshipped is not clear. The Dravidians of North India (before they were pushed South) and the Aryans (who pushed the Dravidians south) are both Hindus but practice slightly different forms of worship. Buddhism, a revolt against what the Buddhists call Brahmanism (Hinduism based on the superiority of the Brahmins), once flourished all over India. After many centuries in the doldrums, Buddhism is making a comeback. The vast majority of people from the Indian subcontinent who converted to Buddhism, Islam and Christianity are from the lower strata. They did so mainly to escape the caste based oppression by the upper castes. The elite among the Muslims belong to the invading Moghals or are Turkish in descent. As far as Christianity is concerned, Goan Catholics and the Syrian Catholics of South India are exceptions. Members of all castes converted to Catholicism in these areas. In Goa, caste based discrimination continues to be practiced among the Catholics, even within the precincts of the Church. Caste discrimination within the Church was a shame and stigma to the life and message of Jesus. Ambedkar recognized the fact that Jesus stood out against the caste system. However, he also saw that Indian Christianity had been poisoned by caste-based oppression, He could not accept the fragmented Church which was riddled with its own form of caste-based politics. The Catholic Church is one of the largest contributors to the development of top quality education in India. There is hardly a city or town in India where the top high schools are not run by the Catholic Church. The Jesuits, Jesus & Mary and Carmelite nuns have contributed the most to this effort along with the Salesians. They were assisted after 1947 by the "education for all" policy espoused by the Nehru Congress party. Of interest is the fact that the Catholic Church and the Congress Party are the two major targets of the right Wing Hindu fundamentalists - the other coincidentally convenient reasons notwithstanding. The challenges a Catholic faces: In modern times, the only problem Roman Catholics faced in India with their practice of their faith, was with the Church's stand on Birth Control. That has changed over the past 17 years. Other problems which have come to the fore. What follows is a personal impression of the major problems that a Roman Catholic faces in India today. 1. Rise of Hindu Fundamentalism : It was a Hindu fundamentalist who gunned down the disciple of peace, Mahatma Gandhi in 1948. In the face of severe backlash, the Hindu fundamentalist organizations decided to lay low for a few decades. As the 1990s began, the political maestros associated with Hindu fundamentalism became restless and struck their first decisive blow with the destruction of the Babri Masjid. The fabric of relative calm and religious tolerance in India was torn to pieces. The country has not been the same since and is unlikely to be the same, anytime soon. After having dealt a first strike at a Muslim religious site, the Hindu fundamentalists then turned their attention towards the tiny Christian minority. In January 1999 an Australian missionary, Rev. Graham Staines was burnt alive in his jeep along with his two sons. Later that year several Catholic priests were attacked and nuns raped. The Hindu BJP which is the pleasant political front for the Rt. Wing Hindu outfits, did the "fiddle a la Nero" while Catholic priests, nuns and faithful lived in fear. The Christians were easier to attack than the Muslims who were numerically greater and infinitely less tolerant of abuse than the Catholics. The Hindu fundamentalists however had a particular interest in the Catholics. It is the Catholic Church which has afforded top quality but inexpensive education to hundreds of millions of Indians, irrespective of Caste or Religion. Suddenly, there was a cadre of bright young, Catholic-school educated Indians. Unfortunately for the fundamentalists, this group included members of the so called lower castes. (Please read The Horrible Caste System of India). In the year 2000, the ruling BJP produced a draft Christian Marriage Bill 2000. This bill when passed into law would allow only Christian couples to be married in church. Mixed couples would now be compelled to marry under the Special Marriage Act. In a blatant attack on the freedom of religion, various Hindu fundamentalist governed Indian States demanded that those who wanted to convert to Christianity have special permission from the government to do so. Three decades ago, various nuclei from among the Hindu fundamentalists commenced their slow but steady advances towards the Catholic Church. Under the guise of Inter-religion dialogue, they went to Catholic seminaries and schools, and engaged priests in dialogue. In a process akin to the Communist technique of gradual brainwashing, they managed to get 'into the minds' of a number of intellectual but very naive Catholic priests. One step at a time, steadfast to their goal, chip by chip, they began their process of mind control. It was hardly a "dialogue". They routinely repeated the mantra about the Inquisition and colonialism. St. Francis Xavier, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II came for serious vitriol. A la Goebell and the Nazis (with whom they share the Swastika symbol), the Hindu fundamentalists repeated selective quotes from or about these Catholic icons. It did not have to be true; if repeated often enough, confusion-weary Catholics would believe. It is important to note that many of these skilled debaters are alumni of Catholic schools. 2. The scandal involving abusive Priests especially in the US & Africa : If there was one issue which hurt Indian Catholics right in the heart, this was it. How on earth could the trusted priests turn into such monsters. To the Hindu fundamentalists, this was like manna from Heaven. Suddenly, they did not have to do much to destroy the faith of Catholics. The US press and the molesters who had infiltrated the priesthood were doing the job for them. The shoddy cover up of this problem by the US Bishops didn't help very much. Instead of just going away, this problem got bigger and bigger thanks also to those who were adding fuel to fire. Catholic organizations should have publicly condemned the molesters and distanced themselves from these unconscionable actions. Most Catholic organizations remained silent, leaving rank and file Catholics to face the embarrassment on their own. A few rogue elements who had infiltrated the Catholic religious orders had destroyed centuries of sweat, tears, sacrifice and blood by hundreds of thousands of Catholic priests and nuns. The silent inaction by those in charge left ALL priests suspect. Which priest could now be trusted? Fortunately for the Church, the vast majority of uninvolved priests bore the cross and pain with patience and humility. They knew that "This too shall come to pass". As the dust settles on this issue, the fundamentalists can be expected to start a fresh attempt to destroy Catholicism in India. Even so, the Catholic Church and Catholic organizations must distance themselves unequivocally from these abusers. 3. The Church's rigid view on Contraception : This is a difficult problem. Most Indian Catholics are unable to afford large families. The only method by which they could achieve reasonably sized families in India without artificial contraception, is abstinence. Abstinence in marriage, is an unnatural state. After struggling with this mental tug of war between trying to live by the Church's teaching & what the pocket can afford, many Roman Catholics have decided to follow their consciences and use contraceptives. Others just decided to abstain - from Church. 4. The loss of Latin from the Latin Church : The majority of Hindus neither speak nor understand Sanskrit. Yet, every single Hindu religious function is held in Sanskrit. With constant use and explanatory translation, a good number now know what the Sanskrit phrases mean. Similarly, have you ever come across an Islamic function not in Arabic? So, it does makes one wonder WHY Latin was suddenly "removed" from the Catholic services in India. It might be fine in a country which speaks one language. In India there are over 18 different but official languages and a zillion dialects. Presently, there is no way for an individual from one Indian State to effectively follow the Eucharistic service in another State unless the service is held in English or in a known language. The Hindus and Muslims have it right. They have kept the single linguistic bond which maintains the universality of their respective faiths. The Universal (Catholic) Church, by favouring the vernacular over Latin, has allowed itself to be fragmented and weakened by the politics of language. India as a country is fragmented by language squabbles. In an effort to open the Mass to the populace at large in India, the Church has got inherited some of the difficulties which go along with language politics. In Goa, the heartland of Catholicism, the Church in its infinite "wisdom" introduced as its liturgical language that was neither spoken nor understood by the vast majority of Catholics. As this new artificially Sanskritized(S) Konkani had to be taught to be learnt, ALL Catholics above the middle-school age group remained ignorant of the main language of the Church services. So now, we have a situation where this service is held in (S) Konkani, the homily preached listlessly in S-Konkani and ordinary Catholics return home to their lives in Konkani, English or Portuguese; giving true meaning to the words "Sunday Catholics". With at least three generations of Goan Catholics being unable to follow the Mass or homily, the Catholic Church in Goa shot itself royally in the foot and stubbornly refuses to see the gaping wound that its action has produced. Insipid leadership at the diocesan level and the continuation of the Hindu caste system, even within the precincts of the Catholic Church has added to the challenges. 5. Right wing Christian church activities : Almost every single Protestant denomination is represented in India. Many of the Protestant missionaries who arrive in India have no clue about the plurality of Indian belief or way of life. Their religious zeal blinds them to the reality of the situation. While the poor and oppressed might follow these zealots merely as a way out from Hindu Brahmanical oppression, their activities attract the wrath of the Rt. Wing Hindus who oppose conversion for whatever reason. Conveniently for the Hindu fundamentalists, this wrath is also directed towards the Catholics whom the Protestants oppose anyway. The Catholic Church and Catholic organizations must distance themselves from these Rt. Wing organizations. What is the major grouse of the Hindu Fundamentalists? Depends! There are overt grouses and a covert grouse. What are the overt grouses? 1. Hindus of India object to forced or coerced conversions : They have every right to object to these type of conversions. No individual who becomes a Catholic after being forced or coerced will remain a Catholic for long. It is just too difficult to remain a good Catholic. If one is not truly converted to the Christian way of life, that individual is just NOT a Catholic. Fortunately, the Indian Catholic Church is NOT involved in forced or coerced conversions. They are merely taking the shots which should be directed at the Rt.Wing Fundamentalist Protestant Churches and their ways of proselytization. 2. Hindus object at being told that they are pagans who will burn in the fires of Hell : As a Catholic who has heard Indian Rt. Wing Fundamentalist Christians "sending" all others (Catholics and Hindus included) to Hell, must say that I too find it highly offensive. 3. Hindus point out that tribal areas under the guidance of Christian missionaries are organizing separatist movements : These tribals are the original inhabitants of the subcontinent just like the American Indians are of North America. They have been discriminated against for over a thousand years. They resisted those who they consider 'aliens' many centuries before they converted to Christianity. The Catholic Church is not involved with any of the separatist movements in India. Even so, It behooves the Catholic Church to remain absolutely clear of partisan and separatist politics. The real grouse : Behind the overt set of gripes is the real reason why the Fundamentalist Hindus are upset with the Catholic Church. It is as follows: For over a thousand years, Hindus of the upper castes have discriminated against others. Whatever the public posturing, this discrimination remains on the basis of the Colour based Caste system. The Caste System of India is the first system of organized Apartheid in the world. As long as the lower castes remained uneducated, subservient and poor, life was fine as far as the upper castes were concerned. With Catholicism came education. The Catholic Church runs the vast majority of top schools in India. Jesuits are the most notable among the educationists in India. Top quality education for all and that too, at quite an affordable cost. This has resulted in the uplifting of the poor and lowly. Having been educated, youth from the lower castes were no longer willing to remain subservient like their forebears. They also were competing for top level jobs. This is something which was unacceptable to the upper castes. Catholics were responsible for this. Catholics, especially the Jesuits, needed to be "put in their place" . Shades of the 18th Century Portuguese Marquis of Pombal who opined that "the Catholic Church as an enemy of material progress, and the Jesuits as the worst teachers to whom the youth of any country could be entrusted" . The Muslims needed to be put in place too, but it is more important and easier to put the screws on the Catholics. They are after all non-violent. They are unlikely to strike back. The most they will do, is emigrate! Twinkle toes : If one sits down and ponders, this all looks like a game of chess and twinkle toes. Christianity is a Western religion: By western, the fundamentalists imply American, foreign, decadent and promiscuous. When reminded that Christianity came to India in AD 40......twinkle toe When reminded that the Aryans who form the upper castes among Hindus actually are foreigners, the twinkle toe answer: Aryans originated from India. When reminded of the new DNA evidence which links upper caste Hindus to Persians....twinkle toe When reminded of the Caste System and its colour based discrimination ....twinkle toe When reminded of the Laws of Manu and its degrading treatment of women ....twinkle toe When asked what happened to the Buddhist temples....twinkle toe or better still, the Muslims destroyed them. When asked how the majority of Hindu temples survived the Islamic onslaught while the Buddhist temples just disappeared....twinkle toe * Catholic Church is using its schools to indoctrinate young minds and converting them to Catholicism When asked if they (the alumni of Catholic schools) faced any pressure to convert ....twinkle toe It goes without saying that the rise of Hindu fundamentalism in India is gradually destroying a peaceful people, like Christian, Jewish and Islamic fundamentalism is doing just that in other parts of the world. This whole religious struggle is not about religion, it is not about peace or doing the right thing. It is about wealth, power and control. Fortunately for India, the vast majority of people couldn't care less about the fundamentalists or their agenda. The vast majority consider ALL religions as private matter between man or woman and the Creator. Dr. Alfred D'souza. Maharashtra.
