Petiton to President of CBCI Regarding Dalit Christian Issues
- Target:
- The President of Catholic Bishops Conference of India
- Region:
- India
- Website:
- www.daliltchristians.com
Dear Friend,
We, the Study Group from Asia on Dalit Issues at Coady International Institute, Antigonish, NS, Canada came across during our group research on the subject, the gross discriminations faced by the Dalit Christians in Indian Church. Though the Dalit Christians form 65% of total Catholic population in India, we are pained to learn that they are treated unequally in the places of worship, burial grounds, decision making bodies and in the hierarchy. While appreciating the services of the Church in the field of education we also note that only 7.8% SCs and 5.22% STs benefit out of 271 Church run colleges, according to the survey by AICHE in 2001. According to the survey by Fr. Antony Raj in 1989 45% of Dalit Christians in Tamil Nadu are Below Poverty Line.
The study group thinks that if the future Priests and Nuns in the church are sensitized on Dalit problems, the Dalit Christian issues could be addressed to in an effective manner.
So we request you to join this e-signature campaign to petition the Catholic Bishops Conference of India to ensure that the ‘Dalit Studies’ is made a mandatory subject during the theological studies and novitiate formation.
We express our feelings of gratitude for your understanding and solidarity.
Gratefully Yours,
Ms. Sylvia Mondal, Sr. Daphne D'Souza SRA, Mr. Bishnu Lohani , Mr. Patrick Soosainathan, Mr. Birendra Sthapit, Fr. Paulson Muthipeedika CMI and Fr. Devasagayaraj.
Study Group Members on Dalit Issues
The President
Catholic Bishops Conference of India
Sub: Petition to ensure that ‘Dalit Studies’ is made a mandatory subject in Theological studies for the seminarians and during the formation for the nuns.
Your Grace Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil,
We are happy to learn that CBCI played a very active role in bringing the attention of the Nation on the recent atrocities against Christians in Orissa by Nationwide closure of Catholic education institutions as mark of protest against the attacks on the Christians in Orissa.
We also appreciate the measures taken by the CBCI to empower the Christian Dalits. But we are very concerned by the fact that many of the Dalits belonging to 65% strong Dalit Catholic population are facing discrimination in places of worship, burial grounds, decision making bodies and in the hierarchy.
While appreciating the services of the Church in the field of education we also note that only 7.8% SCs and 5.22% STs benefit out of 271 Church run colleges, according to the survey by AICHE in 2001. According to the survey by Fr. Antony Raj in 1989 45% of Dalit Christians in Tamil Nadu are Below Poverty Line. Reservation for the Christian Dalits on par with the Hindu Dalits still remains a challenge for the Church.
We are confident that if the future Priests and Nuns in the church are sensitized on Dalit problems, the Dalit Christian issues could be addressed to in an effective manner.
So we request you to ensure that the ‘Dalit Studies’ is made a mandatory subject in the theological studies for the seminarians and during the formation for nuns.
Yours Truly
Concerned Persons
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The Petiton to President of CBCI Regarding Dalit Christian Issues petition to The President of Catholic Bishops Conference of India was written by Fr. Paulson Muthipeedika CMI and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.