India's Bishops Defend Caste System's "Untouchables"

(December 6, 2008) The caste system was abolished years ago, but members of the "untouchable" group are still marginalized and persecuted, especially because many have embraced Christianity or Islam, reports the Indian bishops' conference. In response to the needs of the Dalit or "untouchable" group in the former Hindu caste system, the Episcopal conference and the National Council of Churches in India declared Dec. 7 the "Day of Dalit Liberation." The theme, "Seek Justice, Liberate the Oppressed," reflects the desire to reclaim the rights of this tribal group. The day was convoked in particular because of recent months' brutal violence in Orissa and other states of India, in which a majority of the victims were Christian Dalits. The conference reported that at least 57 of the dead, and tens of thousands of refugees, belong to this social group. In a public statement issued by the conference, they asserted, "Christian Dalits are attacked because they are Dalits, which implies oppression in the name of castes, and also because they are Christians, which is discrimination in the name of religion. Violence against Christian Dalits is flagrant proof of violation against their human rights."Sunday was chosen to be the day of prayer in all the churches of India due to its proximity to the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Dec. 10), explained the bishops. They added that the purpose of the day is, on one hand, to sensitize the Christian community to the marginalization of Dalits and, on the other, to call for more determined action by the government to guarantee respect for human rights. Meanwhile, acts of violence against Christians have not been curbed. Asia News reported Wednesday that two women were killed in the district of Kandhamal, after returning to their village to harvest rice in their fields. On the night of Nov. 25, homes of two Christian families and one Hindu accused of sheltering Christians were set on fire.