January 15, 2013: The Archdiocese of Mumbai will hold on January 27 a Day of Solidarity
for justice, awareness and gender equality, commissioned by Cardinal Oswald Gracias,
Archbishop of Mumbai and President of the Bishops’ Conference of India. The decision
was taken after the rape case in New Delhi, that has rekindled the debate on violence
against women.
Bombay Archdiocese plans to light 37 million diyas or oil lamps
across all its parishes on that day to create awareness about violence against women
in the country.
The campaign of the archdiocesan women's commission is named
“37 Million Diyas Campaign”. The number “37 Million” is the gender gap between males
and females in the country according to the 2011 census.
The campaign would
focus initially on the gender gap to get people to reflect on the larger picture of
violence against women. This campaign will begin with observing an hour of solidarity
between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. in all parishes on that day. Cardinal Oswald Gracias of
Bomaby has sent out a circular requesting parish priests in the diocese to observe
this day as suggested by the women commission.
He pointed out that “the marginalization
of God from people’s lives has resulted in the weakening of our spiritual moorings
causing a loss of respect of the human person and ethical values.” The campaign aims
to raise awareness about female feticide, female infanticide, dowry deaths, sexual
assault and high mortality rates of girls under five due to neglect.
It would
also focus on the low status of women in India which is the root cause of this female
feticide. The commission has drawn up a list of suggestions for parishes to observe
the hour of solidarity. The parishes can conduct various programs, including candle-light
processions, public gatherings, street plays, power point presentations, formation
of human chains to express solidarity with women.
The commission suggests that
if such public expressions are not possible, a holy hour service or an inter-faith
prayer service during that time may be arranged. “We need to go beyond the law, beyond
self-interest and beyond self-preservation to always seek what is good for the wellbeing
of others as indeed of the whole of society,” the Cardinal said.
He said that
the process of changing mind-sets and attitudes derogatory towards women should begin
with the family as it is in the family that the foundation of our and approach toward
women is formed.
The women commission, in collaboration with other bodies in
the archdiocese, is meeting on Jan. 25 to draw up a long term plan that aims to conduct
awareness programs about safety of women.