In a putting commentary printed on 4 January 2025, Derek O’Brien, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and chief of the All India Trinamool Congress Parliamentary Get together, has urged the Catholic Church management in India to interrupt their silence on urgent social and political points affecting the Christian group, notably in gentle of current Christmas celebrations with Prime Minister Modi.
O’Brien, breaking his personal precedent of by no means having written concerning the Indian church in his 20 years of public life, opened his piece with a poignant quote from the late Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny: “The one factor obligatory for the triumph of evil is for good males to do nothing.”
The parliamentarian’s article reveals rising dissent throughout the Catholic group, together with from senior spiritual figures. He quotes a former Provincial of a big spiritual congregation who questioned whether or not “it’s time for the lay Catholic leaders to unite and set the path for the church in social and political spheres.”
The article raises severe issues concerning the proliferation of anti-conversion legal guidelines throughout ten Indian states: Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan. O’Brien questions these legal guidelines’ constitutionality, citing violations of Basic Rights underneath Articles 14, 15, and 25.
A good portion of the critique addresses the controversial Christmas occasion with Prime Minister Modi. In accordance with a nun and main educationist quoted within the piece, “That the bishop’s physique gave the Prime Minister a platform throughout Christmas for a photo-op is unacceptable… They will select to ask whoever they need, however why was not a single MP from among the many 20 elected Christian MPs invited?”
The MP disclosed particulars of a vital dinner assembly between Christian MPs and the Bishops’ physique on December 3. Regardless of preliminary denials, the assembly addressed a number of essential points, together with inter-religious solidarity, notably relating to the Waqf Invoice in Kerala. The MPs emphasised the significance of supporting the Muslim group whereas acknowledging sure contentious clauses in particular states, demonstrating a dedication to minority rights throughout spiritual boundaries.
In his pointed questioning of Prime Minister Modi, O’Brien addresses a number of essential points. He notably emphasises the federal government’s technique of ‘taking part in minority versus minority, particularly in Kerala’ by means of the Waqf Invoice. The MP additionally raises the haunting case of Father Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist who died in custody in 2021 after being denied fundamental requirements like a sipper and straw regardless of affected by Parkinson’s illness.
The article concludes with a robust quote from internationally famend Jesuit activist Father Cedric Prakash: “The Church management in India appears to have missed the bus. Their hearts and ears will not be listening to the cries of the hundreds of thousands struggling within the nation – notably the minorities… they appear to be completely afraid of the ruling regime to take a visual and vocal stand.”
O’Brien balances his critique by highlighting the Christian group’s vital contribution to Indian society, noting that “Seven out of 10 spiritual minority colleges in India are helmed by the Christian group” and “Three out of 4 college students learning in establishments run by Christians are non-Christians.”
This unprecedented critique from a senior parliamentarian underscores rising issues concerning the Catholic Church’s management function in addressing social and political challenges dealing with India’s Christian group, whereas additionally highlighting the necessity for inter-religious solidarity in difficult instances.
