Indian Catholics, Protestant to join in prayer for Dalits
December 03, 2015
Catholic and Protestant communities in India will mark December 13 as a day of prayer for the liberation of Dalits, once known as untouchables.
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The theme of the day is “climate, castes and care for the Earth,” according to the Fides news agency.
“Dalits are not only economically poor, but do not have rights, since they are denied political and social rights,” said Bishop Neethinathan Anthonisamy of Chingleput. “Caste is a human system that assigns a social stigma handed down for generations … Many of us are not aware of the situation of Dalits, and some of us consciously discriminate against them, in violation of the values of the Gospel.”
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Further information:
- La Chiesa in India celebra la Giornata dei dalit (L’Osservatore Romano, p. 6)
- ASIA/INDIA - Day for Dalits dedicated to climate and environment (Fides)
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Posted by: Dennis Olden -
Dec. 03, 2015 7:35 PM ET USA
What in the world is the connection between climate and caste? Doesn't make any sense except as a political move to connect an unworthy cause with a worthy one. Such a connection seems to devalue the Dalit people by reducing them to the level of the inanimate climate and the inanimate earth (with a lower-case e, please; the earth is not a goddess).
