This Open Letter to Church leaders urges them to stand up for Secular Values and Those Defending the Constitution
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The signatories include Jesuit theologians T K John and Francis Gonsalves, academicians Sr. Nirmalini, AC, Dr. Michael Williams, and St Stephen’s college dean Fr Monodeep Daniel, All India Catholic Union president Lancy D Cuna, EFI general secretary Rev Vijayesh Lal, New Delhi YMCA president Vijay Russel, Former Member of Delhi Minorities Commission AC Michael, activists Cedric Prakash, Ajay Kumar Singh, Dominic Emmanuel, Virginia Saldanha, lawyers Jenis Francis, Tehmina Arora, Pramod Singh, PI Jose, and journalists Suresh Mathew, Jacob Kani, KM Selvaraj, and John Dayal.
The Open Letter said “The number of violent acts against Christians alone during the last 3 years (2014-2016) are over 600, including an increasing trend at social boycott that impinges on the right to life, food and livelihood. This includes physical violence, stopping of worship in churches, attacks on churches, arrests of pastors and their companions, and rapes of Nuns. The National Crime Records Bureau documented 47,064 acts of violence against Dalits in 2014, up from 32,643 in 2010. The violence against Muslims is reaching an alarming peak. The hate spewed not just by non-state actors and political functionaries, but even by Members of Parliament and sometimes by ministers forms the backdrop of this violence, as it also smothers voices seeking justice.”
The Christian community, despite its laudable heritage of the prophetic tradition of defending justice, human rights and freedom, especially of the oppressed and the marginalized, has not come out openly in support of the truth and its upholders. Many had looked upon the Church and expected it to protest these infringements, whoever be the victim of the moment.
“The Church, guided by you, needs to act before it is too late. This is the lesson we learn from history. It is time to stand with the victims to be the voice of poor and marginalised; time to collaborate and partner with the civil society to spread the truth; and time to take bold initiatives and action to prevent further erosion of our humane and constitutional values,” the Open letter said.
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The following is the text of the letter and the names, in alphabetical order, of the signatories:
An Open Letter to the Heads of all Churches and other Christian Leaders
We, as Indian Christians, are concerned at the steady shift we see in our country from a pluralist, secular, democracy to a Hindu Rashtra. What used to be fringe, has now become mainstream. There is a systematic design to undermine the Constitution. Official machinery often seems working in tandem with the ‘vigilantes’. Street lynching, victims charged as accused, stage-managed trials; all on the basis of one’s religious and caste identities. Media seems mute, silent in self-censorship, coerced by the state, or leashed by its corporate ownership. Fake News is the final straw.
What is at stake? The country risks a hierarchical order and an ideology eroding, containing and overwhelming the liberty, equality and fraternity bequeathed us by the Freedom Struggle as an ‘idea of India’ for the modern age. A new coercive culture, steered mob-inspired killers, is destroying lives and families amongst us. Fear stalks the land.
The spontaneous multi-city #NotInMyName upsurge of public revulsion was the ordinary Indian’s cry against this hate and blood-letting.
The anger is as much over the killings as it is over our collective silence.
The government’s double talk is apparent. It is right in its solidarity with the global challenge to international terrorism, but has minimized and dismissed the terror wreaked on the weak and the marginalized by the violent nationalism of the mob. Victims have been Dalits, specially their youth and their women, Tribals and religious minorities.
The number of violent acts against Christians alone during the last 3 years (2014-2016) are over 600, including an increasing trend at social boycott that impinges on the right to life, food and livelihood. This includes physical violence, stopping of worship in churches, attacks on churches, arrests of pastors and their companions, and rapes of Nuns. The National Crime Records Bureau documented 47,064 acts of violence against Dalits in 2014, up from 32,643 in 2010. The violence against Muslims is reaching an alarming peak.
The hate spewed not just by non-state actors and political functionaries, but even by Members of Parliament and sometimes by ministers forms the backdrop of this violence, as it also smothers voices seeking justice.
Inevitably, and perhaps deliberately, these divisive and emotional issues divert attention from the repercussions of radical changes in financial laws and economic policies that adversely affect workers, farmers and the youth who suddenly find themselves rendered unemployed.
The political process taking shape today is against every fundamental humane and constitutional principle of Equality and Dignity of every Indian, and preserving Common Good.
Indeed, it is evil.
And inherently calls upon us as individuals, community and people of Faith, to raise our voice against it.
The Christian community, despite its laudable heritage of the prophetic tradition of defending justice, human rights and freedom, especially of the oppressed and the marginalized, has not come out openly in support of the truth and its upholders. Many had looked upon the Church and expected it to protest these infringements, whoever be the victim of the moment.
This demands serious reflection. As Christians, we are called to be the salt of the earth. Jesus gave the two greatest commandments… loving our Lord with all we have and loving our Neighbour. We have professed obedience to these commandments, but perhaps not as visibly as we should have.
Our children, our youth, ask us if we are showing true Christian love today to our neighbours, manifested in the victims of injustice, the marginalised Dalits and tribals, exploited farmers and unorganized labour? Or have we compromised Kingdom values, for short term gains. Have we become lukewarm; are we the men of cloth who walk by the bleeding man on the road to Jericho?
The Church, guided by you, needs to act before it is too late. This is the lesson we learn from history. It is time to stand with the victims to be the voice of poor and marginalised; time to collaborate and partner with the civil society to spread the truth; and time to take bold initiatives and action to prevent further erosion of our humane and constitutional values.
We humbly call upon you, all Christian leaders and Heads of Churches, to reflect and lead the community in the path of truth, love and justice.
We offer a few points for your consideration, as a Charter of our Duty to our fellow Citizens and our nation.
2. Any erosion, dilution, infringement or violation of Constitutional rights to life and liberty must invite a response from the church as it does from the people. Speaking out is often the one response that is needed. Saying “Stop” to an act of injustice can often prevent tragedy.
3. Our educational institutions must assume their pristine role as crucibles for nation-building, as the Supreme Court has described them.
4. Our Theological institutions, Bible colleges, Formation Houses must in their pedagogy include familiarization with the rights and duties of citizens in international covenants and the Constitution of India to enhance knowledge and hone civic conscience.
5. In unison with members of all faiths, ideologies we should marshal India’s tremendous spiritual resources in consolidating peace, resolving conflicts infusing a sense of values in the body politic.
God bless our people
And God bless India
We are
- A C Michael, Former Member of Delhi Minorities Commission
- A. Chinnappan, Secretary General – All India Catholic Union
- Fr. Ajay Kumar Singh, Human Rights Activist
- Fr. Alex Ekka, Educationist
- Amrit Goldsmith, Human Rights Activist
- Anthony Cruz, Social Activist
- Anthony Dias, Scholar
- Fr. Avinash Masih, Brotherhood Society
- B. Balakrishnan, Advocate
- Barnabas Nongbah, General Secretary, Catholic Association, Shillong
- Benny Anthony Muttath, Catholic Trainer & Activist
- Bertram Devadas, Associate General Secretary, New Delhi YMCA
- Ms. Brinelle D’souza, Faculty Member, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
- Fr. Cedric Prakash, SJ, Human Rights Activist
- Mrs. Chinnamma Jacob, Women Activist
- Mrs. Clara Fernandes, Assistant Secretary General of AICU
- Dr. Daisy Panna, Vice President, Federation of Catholic Associations of Archdiocese of Delhi
- Deepak Mukerji, Governing Board Member – St Stephen’s College
- Fr. Denzil Fernandes, SJ, Executive Director, ISI, Lodi Road
- Fr. Dominic Emmanuel, Activist & Author
- Fr. Francis Gonsalves, Theologian & Journalist
- Franklyn Ceaser Thomas, Advocate
- Gary Andrady, Church Leader
- Fr. (Dr.) George Plathottam sdb, Principal, Don Bosco College, Tura
- Fr. George Peter, Spiritual Animator
- Fr. George Valiyapadath, Capuchin Friar, Padre Pio Shrine, Wayanad
- Ms. Hazel D’Lima, Social Worker
- Captain Hunjan Singh Govindra, Air India
- Rev Isaac Shaw, National Director/President, Delhi Bible Institute
- Ivan Menezes
- Fr. J Felix, Secretary, Inter-religious Commission, Archdiocese of Delhi
- Fr. Jacob Kani, Journalist
- Fr. Jacob Panjikaran SG
- Fr. Jacob Peernikaparambil CMI, National Convener – Forum of Religious for Justice & Peace
- Fr. Jai Kumar, Brotherhood Society
- Jasmine Jose SD
- Jenis Francis, Advocate & President, Federation of Catholic Associations of Archdiocese of Delhi
- Fr. John Chathanatt, SJ, Sahayog
- Dr. John Dayal, Human Right Activist & Journalist
- Dr. Jolly Rimai, Church Leader
- Jose Leon, President – Leo Burnett India
- Joseph Bara, Social Scientist
- Joseph Mattam, SJ
- Fr. Joseph Xavier, SJ, Advocate & Human Rights Activist
- Jugal Kishore Ranjit
- Sr. Justine Gitanjali Senapati, csj, CAO – Congregations of St. Joseph UN NGO
- K M Selvaraj, Journalist
- Sr. Kochurani Abraham, Feminist Theologian, Kerala
- Kulakanta Dandasena Majhi, JKS Iindia
- Lancy D’Cunha, National President – All India Catholic Union
- Lawrence F Vincent, Vice President (M) – Catholic Council of India
- Ms. Loreign Ovung, Advocate
- M. S. Stanislaus, Secretary General – Federation of Catholic Associations of Archdiocese of Delhi
- Sr. Manju Kulapuram, FORUM National Secretary
- Sr. Manish SCN, Social Animator & Activist, Delhi
- Sr. Maria Palathingal, SCN
- Marshal Pereira, AICU President – Madhya Pradesh
- Dr. Michael Williams, President, United Christian Forum
- Ms. Molly Sebastian, Women Activist
- Fr. Monodeep Daniel, Dean, St Stephen’s College
- Myron J Pereira, Campion Jesuit Residence, Mumbai
- Ps. Nehemiah Christie, Head – ADF India Tamil Nadu Legal Aid Centre
- Sr. Nirmala Mulackal SCN, Executive Director CBCI CARD
- Sr. Nirmalini, AC, Educationist
- Dr. Neeti Lal Bhai, Theologian & Human Rights Activist, Varanasi
- O J Metei, Theologian / Social Activist
- Norris Pritam, Board of Director-New Delhi YMCA & Journalist
- Rev Dr. P B M Basaiawmoit, Retired Pastor
- Fr. P Augustine SJ, Pastor & Spiritual Guide
- P I Jose, Advocate
- P. Joseph Packiaraj, President – AICU Tamil Nadu
- Fr P R John, SJ, Principal, Vidyajyoti College of Theology, Delhi
- Sr. (Dr.) Pauline Chakkalakal, dsp, Biblical Theologian & Coordinator of Interfaith Partnership
- Pramod Singh, Advocate
- Fr. Prashant Olekar, Educational Activist
- Fr Raju Alex, Secretary – Catholic Council of India
- Raphael D’Souza, AICU Maharashtra State President
- Sr. Rita Puthenkalam, scn
- Robin Ratnakar David, Advocate
- Fr S. Emmanuel, AICUF National Adviser
- Prof S V Antony, Educationist
- Sr. Sabrina Edwards IBVM, Social Worker
- Shibu Thomas, Minister of Jesus & Founder – Persecution Relief
- Sr. Stella Kaiprampatt
- Fr. Stan Fernandes, Educationist
- Sunil Mallick
- Sunil Nayak
- Fr. Sunny Jacob, SJ, Secretary, JEA, South Asia
- Fr. (Dr.) Suresh Mathew, Chief Editor, Indian Currents
- Fr. T K John, SJ, Theologian
- Mrs. Tehmina Arora, Advocate
- Fr. Tom Mangattuthazhe, Secretary, UCF of Karbi Anglong District, Assam
- Dr. Varghese Manimala, Philosopher, Theologian, Teacher & Activist
- Rev Vijayesh Lal, Secretary General, Evangelical Fellowship of India
- Vijay Russel, President, New Delhi YMCA
- Vinay Stephen, Dalit Leader, Delhi
- Fr. Vincent, Church Personnel
- Virginia Saldanha, Former Secretary, CBCI Women’s Commission & FABC Laity Commission
- Walter Cyril Pinto, Business Development Associate, Udupi
- Walter J Maben, Chairman, Karnataka Missions Network Mangaluru, Karnataka