ASIA/INDIA - Hindu extremists: Catholic missionaries in schools are not to be called "father"

Raipur (Agenzia Fides) - The missionaries of the Catholic schools of the Indian state of Chhattisgarh who are engaged in teaching, as principals or teachers, will no longer be called "father" but only "Sir". As Fides learns, this is the imposition of Hindu extremist groups regarding 22 Catholic schools in the Bastar district, attended by a large majority of non-Christian students. After a meeting with the representatives of Hindu groups and civil authorities, in order to avoid tensions and conflicts representatives of Catholic schools have agreed on the use of the title "Sir", used in all other private schools. Catholic missionaries in the district have agreed to expose school photographs of great personalities, of all religions, who have worked for the national interest in the field of education.
In the days before the agreement, there had been tensions in the area, given the allegations to Christians "of using education as a weapon for conversion". In the service of education, reiterated the Catholic leaders, "one respects the feelings of the Hindu students". It is widely recognized, at all levels, that the Catholic community in India provides services in the field of education that is of high technical and scientific quality, and won the approval of politicians, intellectuals, academics and families belonging to different religious communities.
The effort of the Catholic community is also appreciated in India because in the country, as UNICEF informs, there are over 60 million children who do not attend school even for one day of their lives. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 25/11/2014)