Crossing Boundaries & Building Bridges: Overcoming Prejudices”

(December 5, 2009) “Prejudices have drawn visible and invisible boundaries among people and have widened the gap between people of different identities. The prejudiced lines of control have become contested zones of battlegrounds, with little space or no space available for making reconciliation with the other. Churches and Christians are in no way exception to overcoming prejudices” said Bishop Charles Soreng, Chairperson, CBCI Commission for SC/ST/BC. He said this in his message for the Dalit Liberation Sunday, celebrated on the 6^th of December. India celebrates this day since 2007 with the objective of sensitising the local congregations stand solidly with Dalits in overcoming violence on them, to secure justice from the Government and to overcome discriminatory policies. The theme for this year is "Crossing boundaries and building bridges: Overcoming Prejudices." “On crossing the boundaries, let us build bridges with those who have been victims of our own prejudices in our vicinities. Once we overcome the caste prejudices, we are on the move towards liberation and transformation of our societies and Churches,” said the Bishop. “Then there will be an increasing space for mutual respect, mutual dignity and mutual learning from each other, and justice, peace and equality will no longer be a distant reality.” Further, this day also affirms the freedom of religion and conscience guaranteed in the Indian Constitution and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, added the Bishop. The marginalized sections of Indian society have the right to know Christ, follow him and bear witness to him. He called on the entire Christian community to observe this Dalit Sunday 2009 in all sincerity and faithfulness to our calling as Christians and sensitize all people of good will to overcome prejudices and build friendships with all people in our communities.