It is heart-warming that the Catholic Church in India will observe 23 August as ‘Justice Sunday’. The theme is ‘Justice Begins with Us’ (Is 1:17). In a communique dated 22 July 2026, the Chairman of the CBCI Office for Justice, Peace & Development, Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore, writes that the prophet Isaiah reminds us that true worship of God is inseparable from the practice of justice. God calls us not merely to avoid wrongdoing, but to actively seek justice, protect the vulnerable, and uphold the dignity of every person. Justice is rooted in the very nature of God and reaches its fullness in Jesus Christ, who proclaimed good news to the poor, welcomed the excluded, and restored the dignity of the forgotten. To follow Christ is to become instruments of His justice in our homes, parishes, workplaces, and society. The Second Vatican Council reminds us that “the joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties” of humanity are also those of Christ’s disciples. Besides, the covering letter for Justice Sunday, the Archbishop’s communique also has a relevant poster, a reflective circular, an appropriate liturgical guide and homily points.
Significantly, thanks to the stewardship of Archbishop Machado, the Church in India will be observing ‘Justice Sunday’ this year, after a long time. Perhaps in the recent past, there has been token activity in some Dioceses. Interestingly, since 2014, this important day has been put into cold storage or has been conveniently forgotten. One does not have to go too far to find the reason/s for doing so. It was the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) that took a resolution in 1989 to observe the Sunday after Independence Day annually as ‘Justice Sunday’ in the Church in India. The focus of this special day was to raise awareness of the injustices prevailing in the country, particularly caste discrimination and social inequalities. The first ‘Justice Sunday’ was observed on 20 August 1989. Since then, painstaking efforts have been made every year by the CBCI’s Justice, Peace and Development office to prepare appropriate materials like concept and liturgical notes for a meaningful observance of the day. Till, of course, the ‘blackout’ in recent years.
‘Justice Sunday’ is being observed at a time when our country is reeling under heaps of injustices. Thanks to the youth of the country who have come out in incredible numbers everywhere protesting some of these issues, particularly the mainstreaming of corruption at the highest levels. One experiences injustices everywhere. The minorities are targeted – there are numerous and consistent attacks on the Muslims, the Christians and the Sikhs. Dalits who have embraced Christianity or Islam are denied their legitimate rights. The jal, jungle aur jameen of the Adivasis is being systematically snatched away from them. There is sufficient official data available showing that a few rich become richer every day and the vast majority of the country is becoming more impoverished. Unemployment is rampant. The small farmers, the casual labourers, the migrant workers are subject to exploitation. Women and other genders are at the receiving end of a brutal patriarchal system. Environmental Justice in India is zilch. In the Environmental Performance Index 2026, India is ranked 176 out of 177 countries! The Adani-owned ‘Greater Nicobar Project’ is a disaster in the making. Then we have thousands who have been disenfranchised by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The list is endless indeed!
‘Justice Sunday’ is then an opportune time for the Church in India (hierarchy, clergy, religious, faithful) to respond authentically and proactively, visibly and vocally to cries of victims of injustice. It is public knowledge that, of late, the Church in India, in general (with the notable exception of a minuscule minority), has abdicated the prophetic role it needs to play in these challenging times. By kowtowing to a fascist regime, some in positions of responsibility in the Church have openly betrayed the person and message of Jesus. Many are still gripped with fear, with self-interest, and these pay scant attention to Jesus’ mandate, “fear no one”! Others are ensconced in their comfort zones; still others say, “Why bother, as long as I am not affected!”
Besides Jesus’ own words, Catholic Social Doctrine has been consistent in its understanding of being a witness today. The 1971 Synod of Bishops on ‘Justice in the World’ ushered in a watershed moment for the Church. The Synodal document stated that, “In the face of the present-day situation of the world, marked as it is by the grave sin of injustice, we recognise both our responsibility and our inability to overcome it by our own strength. Such a situation urges us to listen with a humble and open heart to the word of God, as he shows us new paths toward action in the cause of justice in the world.” A call so painfully relevant today.
In ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ Pope Francis reminded us of this prophetic role, “Peace in society cannot be understood as pacification or the mere absence of violence resulting from the domination of one part of society over others. Nor does true peace serve as a pretext to justify a social structure that silences or appeases the poor, so that the more affluent can support their lifestyle with placidity while others have to make do as they can. Demands involving the distribution of wealth, concern for the poor and human rights cannot be suppressed under the guise of creating a consensus on paper or a transient peace for a contented minority. The dignity of the human person and the common good rank higher than the comfort of those who refuse to renounce their privileges. When these values are threatened, a prophetic voice must be raised.”
In ‘Dilexi Te’ Pope Leo XIV is emphatic stating that the Church sides with and takes a stand for the poor; that we all must be aware that there are “structures of sin” that keep the poor in poverty and lead those who have sufficient resources to ignore the poor or think they are better than them and that “we need to be increasingly committed to resolving the structural causes of poverty;”
Pope Leo is more blunt in ‘Magnifica Humanitas’, calling the Church to do a serious examination of conscience, which will make many within the Church uncomfortable. He says that the five principles (the common good, the universal destination of goods, subsidiarity, solidarity and social justice) of the Social Doctrine of the Church should be applied not only to society, but also to the Church. He says living out this justice calls for “purifying ecclesial relationships and structures from distortions that give rise to inequality, lack of transparency and abuse of power.” This means listening to the “victims of spiritual, economic, institutional, sexual and power-based abuse, as well as abuses of conscience.” This examen “is an integral part of a journey toward justice, which includes acknowledging the harm done, just reparation and taking steps to prevent it from happening again”
The plain and sad truth is that many in the Church will NOT take ‘Justice Sunday’ seriously! It would be good to take a survey to see how many Dioceses, parishes and institutions have actually observed the day. More so, how many are willing to mainstream justice in their own lives, in their institutions, within the Church and above all accompany the people in their struggle for justice!
Archbishop Machado puts it succinctly, “Justice begins with us—when we choose truth over falsehood, compassion over indifference, service over self-interest, and love over prejudice. As disciples of Christ, let us become builders of justice in our families, our parishes, and our nation. In doing so, we become living witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. May the Lord strengthen each of us to “learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, and plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:17). May Justice Sunday 2026 inspire us to remember that lasting transformation begins with each one.”
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Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ is a renowned human rights, reconciliation and peace activist & writer.
Contact: [email protected]