Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bangalore (Agenzia Fides) - Social discrimination, economic inequality, cultural exclusion, marginalisation from public life for religious or ideological reasons are some of the debated topics in the subcontinent of India, which affect, according to historical contexts and conditions, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan. Discrimination was the issue discussed at an International Symposium in Bangalore (capital of Karnataka state) on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Pope Paul VI's Encyclical 'Populorum progressio', which called on governments to take concrete action to eradicate discrimination and new growing social inequality in southern Asia. The Symposium, organised by the Indian Bishops commission for Justice, Peace and Development, brought together 65 bishops, priests, men and women religious and lay people from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan e Sri Lanka.
After examining the condition of human rights in their respective societies in the light of Catholic Social Doctrine, the participants outlined a concerning picture of persistent disparity fruit of ancient cultural and social customs, for example the caste system in India, as well as new forms of discrimination against linguistic, ethnic and religious minorities, victims of emerging fundamentalist and through new forms of slavery involving mainly women and children.
The participants called for an end to religious discrimination, they said members of religious minorities must be given equal opportunities, pressure on Christians in India must be lifted, the poorest people must be guaranteed development. In India, discrimination based on religion is certainly against the Constitution and so laws, institutions and customs which fail to respect equal rights, must be corrected.
The Catholic Church in India gives special attention to the difficult situation of more than 240 million Dalits in India, who make up two thirds of India's Catholics. These 'untouchable', 'invisible' people live in highly precarious conditions, they cannot own land, attend schools or temples, they do the most humble work, they have no right to police protection, the men are often beaten and the woman raped and killed in total impunity for the aggressors. The participants confirmed the Church's commitment to “help eradicate the ‘culture of the untouchables and the iniquitous Caste system”. The assembly suggested formation courses to promote more participation of Dalits in the life of the Church, recalling that 7 of India's 164 Catholic Bishops are of Dalit origin. The participants also underlined the important role of Catholic media to promote the culture and development of Dalit Indians and to fight all forms of discrimination. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 26/9/2007 righe 30 parole 316)
