“Faith
must flow into action.” (Mid Term Synod Assembly, Pastoral Letter of the
Archbishop Pg. 7) It is necessary for the Church in the Archdiocese of Mumbai
to activate relevant and responsible systems to ensure that it is at the centre
of the fight for justice at the macro and local levels in the country.
The
survey conducted for first phase of the Archdiocesan Consultation clearly
indicates the importance of focusing on this aspect and it also points out to
how we are lagging behind in this sphere. This implies that our devoutness
needs to be directed outwards in order to assimilate social needs and give them
a religious fervour. There is a need to breakout from the cosy comforts of the
four walls of our churches and understand that the world around can be the
centre of our spirituality and salvation.
If the
Church in Mumbai has to create a better world for all, it is imperative that we
change our spiritual outlook and mind-set.
By converting the following activities into frontline ministries as well
as by integrating them into our spiritual lives, it is possible for the Church
to develop and foster a meaningful relationship with the country.
a. Propagate
Good Governance.
b. Contribute
to Public Administration.
c. Uphold
Human Rights.
d. Protect
Environment.
1. GOVERNANCE: It
is said, ‘Politics is the last refuge of scoundrels’ and ‘Power Corrupts.’
However, political power, per se, is not bad; but the misuse of power is. Moses was a political leader who fulfilled
his task to perfection. By their calling
Christians are mandated to become part of the political community. When
authority, which is the basic essential for good governance, is not optimally
exercised, the following problems emerge:
a. Rampant spread of corruption at all levels
of government (civil and ecclesial)
b. Degradation of public office (electoral
politics, bureaucracy and judiciary)
c. Deficiency of consciousness and involvement
in public issues.
d. Lack of participation, transparency and
accountability in public life.
2. PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION:
In
spite of the Church’s pioneering efforts in education and medical care its
impact on public life is abysmally low.
The number of lay faithful in public service, public policy making and
in positions of significance in government and is microscopic. Integration into
public life is now a necessity to increase the Church’s influence on the nation
and thereby make us confident as a people to spread communal harmony in the
country.
3. HUMAN
RIGHTS: Since ‘Genesis’, where God created humans in His
/ Her image and likeness, the inalienable rights which are inherent in the
human person by virtue of his / her existence, are sacred and inviolable.
Hence, it is crucial that the rights of every human being (irrespective of
class, creed, caste and gender) are not only upheld but also proactively
promoted. Some areas of concern in this
area are:
a. Gender issues:
patriarchy, inequality, monopoly, discrimination, dowry, evil social practices.
b. Children: deformative
education system, stifling natural growth, overburden, malnutrition, child
labour, child abuse.
c. Tribal: alienation of land rights (displacement), loss
of traditional livelihood sources (eg., trawlers invading upon traditional
fishing communities), lack of access to basic amenities and their integration
into the mainstream of the nation without obliteration of their identity.
d. Senior Citizens: abandonment
by children, maltreatment, lack of medical support, insufficient
security (physical and economic)
e. Economically vulnerable: hunger,
improper shelter, inadequate and expensive medical services, education,
employment, legal aid.
4. ENVIRONMENT:
Without denying its positives, two of the major fallouts of globalization are:
the trampling of human rights and the spread of ecological degradation. Called
to be ‘stewards of creation’, even a casual introspection would reveal that we
have failed (individually and collectively) to live up to this clarion
challenge. Some of the adverse impacts of the devastation of the environment
are:
a. Pollution of air, water and soil
b. Loss of wet lands / mangroves in urban and
rural spaces
c. Deforestation due to gentrification and
commercialization of space
d. Wastage caused by conspicuous energy
consumption
e. Climate change and its adverse consequences
SYSTEMS AND NETWORK IN HAND:
If the above sub-area involvements are to be
meaningfully implemented, it is necessary that the Church work towards changing
the mind-set of not only the ‘flock’ but also of the ‘shepherds’. The Church should effectively work through
the current networks that are already available.
PEOPLE CHURCH ORGANISATIONS
1. SCCs 1. APC/DPC/PPC 1. ALMs
(Advance Locality Management
groups)
2. SHCs 2. Associations 2. NGOs
(Non Government Organisations)
3. Individuals 3. Movements 3. MUNICIPAL CORPORATORS 4. Cells 4. MLAs
5. Priest
Teams 5. MPs
6. Religious 6. Human Right Movements
7. Schools 7. Inter-Faith dialogs 8. Colleges 8. Cutural Promotion
initiatives
9. CBCI 9. Political and economic Forums
10. Economic
forum
11. Technology
Initiative
SOME SUCCESSES:
Having listed some of the major areas of
concern, it would be pertinent to note that Christians have raised their voice
when it was needed and have been quite successful in securing justice for the
deprived as well as for whose human right are under threat. Here are some
instances within the Mumbai Archdiocese :
a. Jagruti Kendra a Community Based
Organization (CBO), called CCO in Church circles, situated in Jeri Meri has
worked with people’s life threatening issues ranging from struggle for human
rights such as basic amenities, confronting gender discrimination, taking those
in authority to task in a bid to ensure good governance, etc. The methodology
followed was to identify the concerns that gave people sleepless nights,
organizing the community around these concerns and training them to deal with
the situation in creative ways.
b. The locals of Uttan-Gorai region were
successful in thwarting Corporate and Government plans of establishing a SEZ (Special Economic Zone) in their region
that threatened to displace them and deprive them of their livelihood.
c. The residents of Pereira-wadi, Bandra
foiled a developer’s attempts to establish a SRA (Slum Rehabilitation Act)
Project through fraudulent means with the help of supportive citizens and
groups.
d. Numerous Christians are using the RTI to
expose rampant corruption in public places and are also effective in improving
transparency and accountability in administration.
e. Some active Christians have filed PILs both
online and in Courts to remedy situations where they feel there is need for
fighting for justice.
f. Some Christians have done yeoman service
to the nation with their meritorious service in the police force, civil
services and as elected representatives from political parties.
g. Associations such as the Bombay Catholic
Sabha (BCS) and Civic and Political Cell have made efforts to interact with
political parties and the administration in an effort to get good governance.
They have promoted Voter Registration drives and facilitated the election
process.
h. The BCS has organised major rallies at Azad
Maidan and Shivaji Park to raise issues concerning injustice, communalism and
atrocities against the minorities.
i. The BCS promotes Career Guidance, the
utilization of Government Minorities Scheme and to sensitise people on issues
such as redevelopment of housing societies, SRA, property taxes, RTI, etc.
RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONS :
In order to achieve our goals and objectives of
improving our Relationship with the Country we need to put systems in
place and have a suitable plan of action:
1. Establishing
an apex body at the Mumbai Curia level with the mandate of co-ordinating
and evaluating all the activities undertaken by all the parishes in the
archdiocese. To make this body accountable, its collated reports would have to
be fully published in the Examiner and excerpts in newspapers (in English and
vernacular languages spoken in the archdiocese).
2. Ensuring
that the Centre for Community Organisation (CCO) are not only established
in every parish but are functioning as per the Post Synodal Document’s
intentions (Mumbai, 56 – 57). The CCO should be given the task of carrying out
on-going studies and social analysis of various issues that fall within the
ambit of its parish.
3. Restructuring
the activities of the CCOs and having their annual reports audited and filed
with the central authorities of the Church in Mumbai.
4. Insisting
that all the institutions run under the aegis of the Church introduce social
involvement programmes for their clients – the outcomes of which have to be
reported to the apex body.
5. Conducting
annual / biannual competitions at the parish and archdiocesan levels on issues
of national / state / civic significance; but also organising inputs
sessions to possible participants so as to help them comprehend as well as
develop the analytical acumen to grapple with the focus issues.
6. Organizing
coaching classes for those aspiring to join the civil services at
centralized locations within Church premises.
7. Appointing
clergy with an eye to ensuring continuity in the social justice works
that have already been established by the earlier appointees.
8. The on-going
formation of clergy should be adapted to changing times. Seminarians should
be trained with managerial skills so as to imbibe in them the spirit
that ‘a leader has to serve and not be served’; the leader has to listen,
discern and democratically as well as transparently execute the popular but
just will.
9. Consider
a rethink on the venue for formation of the seminarians. Remove them
from the comfort zones of the present seminaries and make them experience the
hard realities of life in slums and other challenging places.
The Church in Mumbai
has the requisite framework to foster a healthy, meaningful and an effective
relationship with the country while carrying out her mission of bringing
succour to the poor, justice to the deprived and hope to the struggling. The
Church can enlist a number of successful forays in these areas. However, it is
necessary that the Church does not become complacent with these but strives to
deliver more for the nation and for the ‘greater glory of God’.
Questions for Discussion:
1. Mention at least 3 most important ideas in
the paper you agree with, giving reasons for the same
2. Any suggestions relating to the
implementation and the way forward regarding the above?
3. Please
mention any ideas in the paper you disagree with, giving reasons for the same
4.
Please mention any important aspects that you
think have not been covered in the paper.
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