The Catholic Church in India has issued a policy document on Dalit empowerment, in which it acknowledges centuries of caste based discrimination as a ‘grave social sin’ and commits to ensuring that the practice of ‘untouchability’ will not be tolerated within the church.
"I whole heartedly urge the Bishops, priests, religious and lay leaders to internalise and implement the policy at all levels. We should consider it as our obligation based on Christian faith to empower our children, sisters and brothers of Dalit origin and other marginalised people," said Baselios Cardinal Cleemis, Major Archbishop-Catholicos and President of the Catholic Bishops's Conference of India.
The document, entitled 'Policy of Dalit Empowerment in the Catholic Church in India: An Ethical Imperative to Build Inclusive Communities', issued on 13 December, includes commitments such as ensuring that Dalits are given equal employment opportunities; more competent and cohesive lay leadership development for Dalit men and women at regional and diocesan levels in the Church; dedicated funding and scholarship structures to assist marginalised Dalit students to further their education and to facilitate the Dalit community's access to social justice.
Dr John Dayal, the former National President of the All India Catholic Union, described the document as “a powerful commitment to a seminal struggle against birth-based discrimination that corrodes human dignity.”
Almost 65 per cent of Indian Catholics are Dalits, who have endured a long history of discrimination and injustice in India. Christian and Muslims Dalits are legally excluded from ‘Scheduled Castes’ status, which means that they are denied employment opportunities such as holding elected office, which would otherwise be available to Dalits who profess Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.
Their legal status also means that Muslim and Christian Dalits are denied legal protections in the event of wrongful occupation of land, malicious criminal suits or humiliation.
PICTURE: Indian Dalits and Muslims holds placard during a rally against atrocities on Dalits, the lowest rung of India's caste hierarchy, in Ahmadabad, India, September 2016.
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