New Delhi: National Dalit Christian Watch (NDCW) on Wednesday expressed its deep anguish and displeasure against the recent unwarranted, unethical and un-Christian alleged remark made by the Bishop of Pala, Mar Joseph Kallarangat of the Syro-Malabar Church that ‘Narcotics Jihad was being used to lure Christian Youth’.
In a press release issued today, the Chairperson of NDCW, Rev Dr Vincent Manoharan said, “This disparaging remark has caused, not only an unprecedented controversy in the socio–religious-political spheres of Kerala but across India. It also had an adverse element of instigating all religious fundamentalist outfits, to take advantage of their Islamophobiac perception and position.” The note went on to add that the damage caused could have been averted, provided the Church leadership had a proper perception on ‘religious freedom, hate speech, patriarchy, casteism, Indian Constitution and also Universal Declaration of Human Rights’.
The forum felt that Indian Churches particularly the Roman Catholics, mainline Protestants and the independent-charismatics, mainly in Kerala, have a unique heritage with distinct history and communities drawn from various cultural, caste and denominational backgrounds. “In such a backdrop, the remark made by a Church leader, however intellect or naïve he might be, not only disturbs the sentiments of mainly the Dalit Christians, who form majority within the Indian Christian community, but also is detrimental to the very secular fabric of this great nation, which is known for its laudable Constitutional values,” the release mentioned
Since NDCW stands for a ‘Caste-free church, ecumenism and communal harmony among all faith-based communities’, it does not advocate the terms “Love Jihad and Narcotic Jihad” etc., which goes against a particular religious sect, accusing it as the main reason for all what happens in this soil and elsewhere in the world in the name of religion, Dr Manoharan felt.
The forum equally condemns those, who safeguard the remark of the clergy, with a justification that “The Bishop voiced this statement for protecting the Youth of Christian Community”, which is still worse, as it trespasses into the very liberty and freedom of youth, who have a ‘mind and choice’ to look for their life partner and life style.
“In addition, such remarks and also the supportive voices, affirm the ‘Patriarchal and casteist’ mindset of the clergy and also the laity, who go against to the Christian teaching and faith that ‘All are Created in the Image of God’; There is ‘neither Jew, nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female-but all are ONE’. Protecting the Church and the Christian Community should be based on how the Clergy and the Lay inherit Christian insights and follow the scriptural values and see that their ‘preaching and practicing go together’ and not through other means like making derogatory remarks,” it felt.
On the Legal side, such remark ‘Narcotic Jihad’ goes against to the very secular spirit of Indian Constitution that upholds religious harmony among its citizens. ‘Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity’ and the Fundamental Rights ensured to its Citizen, ‘the Freedom of Choice’. On the Political side, such remarks may have direct or indirect ramification to ‘fillip’ the political religiosity to marginalise and oppress the religious minorities and other vulnerable, Dr Manoharan added.
NDCW has urged Indian Church leadership to restrain from making such scathing attacks in the name of protecting their own community. Instead, it should exercise its ‘mind and heart’ to address the issue of ‘caste based discrimination’ that exists in all its domain and ‘protect Women from all Patriarchal values and designs of Church’ to prove that ‘ALL are one’ in the Church.