Pope Tells Catholics to Give Equal Rights to Catholic Dalits in India

[Guest guest]

Pope Tells Catholics to Give Equal Rights to Catholic Dalits in India

Religion News Service

 

NEW DELHI, INDIA, December 3, 2003: The report by Religion News Service

says, in part, "John Paul told Roman Catholic bishops from India making

their periodic visit to the Vatican to reject divisions based on caste. 'At

all times, you must continue to make certain that special attention is

given to those belonging to the lowest castes, especially the Dalits,' he

exhorted the bishops. Dalits are Hindus at the bottom of the Indian caste

structure. 'Customs that reinforce caste division should be sensitively

reformed so they may become an expression of the solidarity of the whole

Christian community,' John Paul said.

 

"Said the Rev. Dr. Ipe Joseph, general secretary of National Council of

Churches in India. 'Many church leaders are not actively fighting this

caste system.' The bishops conference has acknowledged caste-based

practices are still found in the church. Of the 164 bishops in India, only

seven are Dalits. In some regions segregation is still practiced in

worship.

 

HPI adds: Catholic Dalits continue to suffer the same discrimination after

their conversion. There are separate churches for the Dalit Catholics and

brahmin Catholics, as well as separate burial grounds.

 

_______________

MSN Premium: Up to 11 personalized e-mail addresses and 2 months FREE*

http://join.msn.com/?pgmarket=en-ca&page=byoa/prem&xAPID=1994&DI=1034&SU=http://\

hotmail.com/enca&HL=Market_MSNIS_Taglines