Author: Ram Bharati
Publication: Orissa News
Date: May 5, 2009
URL: http://www.orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=12436
Mr. R.L. Francis is the National President
of the Dalit Christians organization known as 'Poor Christian Liberation Movement'
(PCLM). On May 2, 2009, in Bhopal, Mr. R.L. Francis along with his companions,
Rev. Fr. William Premdass Chaudhary and Mr. P.B. Lomeo (Editor of the Church
Restoration, Bhopal, Monthly) toured to the Christians colonies in Bhopal
and listened and discussed local / Dalit Christians' problems. Mr. Francis
says that the churches are responsible for the pathetic condition for Dalit
Christians in India.
Mr. Francis says that church authorities are
spending cores of rupees in order to spread their kingdom through preaching.
There are around two hundred (200) catholic dioceses, in India, which follow
rules and regulation of Vatican and in the coming of fifty years (50) there
will be more dioceses in India. Mr. Francis says that if Catholic Church spends
more money for the development and enlistment rather than on preaching then
the condition of Dalit Christians, who are wounded sheep of this fold, will
improve their condition and they will have better opportunity in their lives.
Mr. France says that the church authorities
have best educational institutions in India. There are about four to five
per cent Christian population in India but churches have hold on around twenty
two per cent (22%) of educational institutions and thirty per cent (30%) of
health care. Next to government, the churches are the biggest land owners
in India. In spite of having enough facilities with the church yet Dalit Christians'
condition is deteriorating. There are fifteen per cent (15%) Dalit Christians
in the cities and forty per cent (40%) Dalit Christians in the rural areas
are illiterate in spite of having best convent schools in the church. Thousand
of Tribal girls are forced to do the work as Aaya in the rich families. These
girls are coming from Tribal areas where there are no job opportunities. These
girls (Aayas) are physically molested and mentally tortured.
Churches are not taking enough care of these
girls. In Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) alone, in spite of less Christians population,
catholic church have cores of rupees and enough means to provide better education
and job to Dalit Christians. In Madhya Pradesh the church have more then one
hundred and fifty (150) High schools and half of them are convent schools.
In Bhopal alone catholic church have the property, movable and unmovable,
worth of more than six hundred crores (600) yet Christians' condition is not
improved. The church property and money are being used by the authorities
as they wish.
The members of Poor Christian Liberation Movement,
Rev. Fr. William Predass Chaudhary and Mr. P.B. Lomio explained to the local
Christians about Mr, Anand Benard's, who is the only member of minority commission
of Madhay Pradesh government, suggestion to the M.P. government to form like
a Waqf bord. If the M. P. government forms such kind of bord then we must
welcome the government's step and the Christians will have no loss at all.
On August 27, 2004, Poor Christian Liberation Movement had given a memorandum
to the Honorable Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohon Singh to form such kind of committee
to control the properties of churches. Last year June 6, 2008, Poor Christian
Liberation Movement had organized a National Convention at India Islamic Cultural
Centre, 87-88 Lodi Road, New Delhi-110003. From all over India there were
three hundred (300) representatives who repeated the demand to form committees
to look after church properties. The National President of PCLM, Mr. R.L.
Frances says that if the Waqf board has no credibility or the Muslim community
bearing any loss then the Muslim community will not allow such king of board.
But they are benefiting from Waqf board. If such kind of board / committee
is formed to safeguard the properties of churches then Christian community
should not oppose it. There may be such kind of people who may oppose for
their own sake. Such kind of people astray the Christian community from the
main issue. The properties and money are being misused by leaders of churches
and rich people The educational institutions are being run by the upper caste
rather than Dalit Christians who are deprived from all the facilities in the
churches. Thus upper caste people are enjoying both properties and educational
facilities.
Poor Christian Liberation Movement regrets
about the behavior of church authorities who are collecting money from national
and international level in the name of poor Christians who are attacked by
the miscreants. The money is not reaching fully to the effected people. Mr.
R.L. Francis says that there are no problem between Christians and Hindus.
The problems come only when we interfere in the lives of others and religions.
We should follow sincerely our own religion without criticizing. We must honor
all the religions because all religions give salvation. The National President
of PCLM, Mr. R. L. Francis appeals to the local and Dalit Christians to fight
for justice and equal right in churches and society. We need to struggle to
have our own position in the churches. The struggle is the key for success.
The appointment of bishops by the Vatican
must be opposed because when bishops are appointed by Vatican then they ignore
the local Christians. The South Indian priests should not be appointed as
bishops for North Indian dioceses. North Indian priests should be appointed
as bishops for North Indian dioceses as other denominations do. Local priests
know the culture and traditions better and thus local bishops will be more
successful in evangelization in North India.