It is time for the powerful Indian Catholic Church to collectively speak up. A media conference in the national capital Delhi and simultaneously in every state capital must demand and urge the restoration of peace in Manipur immediately; the safe return of all tribals/Christians ousted from their land and homes; adequate monetary compensation for rebuilding homes, Churches, institutions destroyed; prosecution and punishment of all responsible for the violence (even if they have powerful connections).
This plea in the form of an open letter to the CBCI also strongly suggests that 100 Cardinals/Archbishops/Bishops visit Manipur for at least two days before June 25 and spotlight the miseries of the people of that state.
The Open Letter (full text below) also highlights “several other pre-mediated attacks, the venomous hate speeches and other forms of violence on the Christians of Madhya Pradesh (especially in Sagar and Jabalpur), in Chhattisgarh (on June 6 a newly professed Catholic nun, her mother and others were falsely arrested from a thanksgiving Mass in the Jashpur Diocese, for apparently ‘offending religious sentiments’) and in several other parts of India; all these take place with a frightening regularity. Nothing happens to the perpetrators of these heinous crimes who do so with impunity.” Father Cedric in this letter states also that “there is sufficient evidence, after painstaking research done by completely objective and professional individuals and groups, that the acts of these perpetrators are motivated, given legitimacy and immunity by the most powerful of the land.”
On Manipur, the letter states that there is “systematic targeting killing of the tribals and Christians, the destruction of Churches and Christian institutions is nothing short of being barbaric; facts and figures speak for themselves. Thousands of people who lived in the hilly areas of Manipur, have fled their homes and lands and taken refuge in temporary shelters. The tribals and Christians of Manipur long for a sustainable peace based on their legitimate and just demands. One does not have to be a rocket- scientist to know and understand why this current violence is taking place and who is behind it!”
Apart from the national media conference, the letter urges that the CBCI call for a National Protest Day in the month of June 2023 to highlight what is happening to the minorities, the Adivasis, the Dalits and the other vulnerable groups of the country. It is time also that the CBCI demands the “immediate removal of Priyank Kanoongo, the President of the National Commission for the Rights of the Child, for targeting Christian institutions and making fabricated and unsubstantiated allegations against Christian personnel”
The Full Text of the letter may be read here:
Dear Bishops….!
To: Most Rev. Andrews Thazhath, President; to ALL Office-Bearers and ALL Members
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI)
Your Eminences, Your Excellencies, Your Lordships,
Greetings to each one of you!
This letter is being personally addressed to each one of you; my apologies for doing so through one common email!
A little over three years ago, on February 12, 2020, I wrote a letter to all the Bishops of India (THANKS once again to all those who replied to me). (The longer version has parts of the 2020 letter with extracts from the CBCI General Assembly Statements of 2012, 2014, 2016 & 2018).
Today, my dear Cardinals and Bishops: the people of India: the excluded and the exploited, the other marginalized and the minorities, particularly the Christians, cry out to you: they need your prophetic voice, they need you to be visible in taking a stand for truth and justice, in being a true and good Shepherd just like Jesus- ready and willing to lay down one’s life!
What is happening in Manipur, since more than a month now, to the tribals and particularly to the Christians there, is a crime against humanity! The systematic targeting killing of the tribals and Christians, the destruction of Churches and Christian institutions is nothing short of being barbaric; facts and figures speak for themselves. Thousands of people who lived in the hilly areas of Manipur, have fled their homes and lands and taken refuge in temporary shelters. The ethnic cleansing that is currently taking place, in complete connivance with those in power draw a striking parallel to the Gujarat Genocide (when Muslims were the victims) which began in February 2002 and which lasted for several months. The tribals and Christians of Manipur long for a sustainable peace based on their legitimate and just demands. One does not have to be a rocket- scientist to know and understand why this current violence is taking place and who is behind it!
There are several other pre-mediated attacks, the venomous hate speeches and other forms of violence on the Christians of Madhya Pradesh (especially in Sagar and Jabalpur), in Chhattisgarh (on 6 June a newly professed Catholic nun, her mother and others were falsely arrested from a thanksgiving Mass in the Jashpur Diocese, for apparently ‘offending religious sentiments’) and in several other parts of India; all these take place with a frightening regularity. Nothing happens to the perpetrators of these heinous crimes who do so with impunity. There is sufficient evidence, after painstaking research done by completely objective and professional individuals and groups, that the acts of these perpetrators are motivated, given legitimacy and immunity by the most powerful of the land. This is certainly no ‘State Secret’! In several cases, the victims are made the ‘criminals’, have false cases foisted on them and are even incarcerated; examples are plenty.
Besides there are many other instances today of how the pluralistic and democratic fabric of the country is being destroyed; of how the fundamentals of our Constitution (which are also values enshrined in the Gospel of Jesus) are being trampled upon; of anti-people policies and legislation which effectively cater to a small privileged section of society. We are all aware of how the poor and marginalized are denied their legitimate rights; of how the environment and our fragile eco-systems are being pillaged for the profiteering of a few; of how minorities are being denigrated, demonized and being discriminated against. Above all, of how corruption and crony capitalism is throttling the nation. The list is endless indeed!
We humbly have to admit, that despite the Synodal process which is underway, the Church in India is by and large still hierarchical, patriarchal and clerical. Therefore, in view of the above, I am writing this letter with great pain, to you my dear Bishops, to ACT NOW, before it is too late! Certainly, we all must pray and without ceasing; but Jesus also reminds us that “not all who say Lord, Lord….”. We are all intelligent enough to DO what we are expected to do. Unfortunately, your Collective Silence, Screams! Many wonder why! Thankfully, some Bishops, some Catholic religious leaders and also some laity, have shown prophetic courage by taking visible and vocal stands on critical issues including the violence in Manipur! There is no doubt about that: once certainly needs to salute them and particularly for risking their lives in the face of much hostility!
Here are some suggestions (even if they sound preposterous) which may help restore the confidence of the people in the hierarchy, may help in bringing back some peace to the suffering people of Manipur and hopefully, may also address some of the systemic issues which plague the nation:
- Call a Media Conference immediately: this has to be done in the National Capital Delhi and also simultaneously in every State Capital. The Media Conference in the Capital must be addressed by the CBCI Office bearers. The demands should include:
- a) restoration of peace in Manipur immediately;
- b) safe return of all tribals/Christians ousted from their land and homes;
- c) adequate monetary compensation for rebuilding homes, Churches, institutions destroyed;
- d) book and punish all responsible for the violence (even if they have powerful connections)
- As many as possible of you (even 100!) Cardinals/Archbishops/Bishops go to Manipur – for at least two days before 25 June. Invite Christian Leaders of other denominations to join you. Stay in the midst of those who are internally displaced; as Pope Francis constantly reminds us “smell of the sheep”; after all, Jesus was born in a stable and died on the cross. Your presence in the midst of the suffering people will send a strong message to all
iii. Organise a National Protest Day in this month of June– to highlight what is happening to the minorities, the Adivasis, the Dalits and the other vulnerable groups of the country. Have a huge gathering in a public maidan in New Delhi – with as many Bishops as possible and people coming from all over the country. Request other civil society groups. /Movements to join in; On this National Protest Day – let there also be public protests in all Dioceses of the country.
- Demand the immediate removal of Priyank Kanoongo, the President of the National Commission for the Rights of the Child, for targeting Christian institutions and making fabricated and unsubstantiated allegations against Christian personnel
Dear Bishops, it is important that you act now with decisiveness and with cohesiveness; it will go a long way in addressing some of the critical issues of today! Hobnobbing with those who rule us today, may bring ‘some token and temporary promises’; but in the long-run however, there will be serious repercussions and irretrievable damage done both to the Church and to the secular, democratic character of our country! Please do not be fooled! (The longer version has quotes from Pope Francis’ ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ and ‘Fratelli Tutti’ which asks her to be engaged in the grim realities of today and when needed to raise prophetic voices) The directions from the Holy Father are clear… why do we fight shy of ensuring their implementation? There is much more to be written but I will stop here, once again making that plea which I made at the beginning: dear Bishops, please be Shepherds responding to the cries of the suffering people now. We all need to be reminded of those immortal words of German Pastor Martin Niemoller, “Then they came for me, and there was no one left, to speak out for me!” Speak out now collectively and individually; speak out strongly for our suffering sisters and brothers!
Assuring you of my prayers for you, dear Bishops, I crave your blessings and prayers. I also look forward to your response to this letter. Thanks, in anticipation! Yours in Him,
Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ
(This is however, an ABRIDGED version of the much longer letter)
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