As a follow-up activity earmarked by Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) Office for Dalits and Backward Classes, a three-day national conference of Dalit priests and Religious took place at Arnold Bhavan, Hyderabad, on November 13–15. Above 110 participants different parts of the India joined the program to share, deliberate and strategize so as to empower themselves and their people back in parishes and communities. The conference focused on “Pilgrimage Extension and Training.” Several dignitaries addressed and facilitated the members dealing with topics: media and effective pastoral ministry, creative ministries to empower the Dalit community members, and interpersonal relationship.
Church denies involvement in Mizoram elections
The Church in poll-bound Mizoram has clarified that it has no role to play in elections as it remains apolitical and doesn’t influence voting in any manner. In north-eastern states, particularly in the Christian majoritarian State of Mizoram, Churches are said to cast an influence on the voters and are considered as key centres that can make or break the fortune of any political party or candidate. Voters are said to be largely influenced by the view of the Church before going for voting. The Church, however, has clarified that it doesn’t interfere in any manner in the election process, adding that it is solely upon the people of the state to decide the fate of political parties through voting.
Church calendar stirs controversy
Featuring the photo of Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar on the official calendar of Trichur archdiocese for 2019 is seen as the prelate’s clout in his home State of Kerala.
Bishop Mulakkal, who is accused of raping a 44-year-old member of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation under his authority, is now out on bail. The court has forbidden the prelate from entering Kerala except to appear before the investigating officer once in two weeks.
The calendar, which is published by the Catholicasabha, the mouthpiece of the archdiocese, features pictures of all bishops hailing from the archdiocese. Bishop Mulakkal’s photo appears in his birth month of March.
The move has not surprised those supporting the survivor since it is in line with the patronage the Church has extended to Bishop Mulakkal. It had allegedly tried to cover up the crime and shield the accused when the nun complained to the Church authorities.
Political leaders are overwhelmed by the open support extended to the bishop by the Church and its various organizations. The Church continued the support even after the police found him prima facie guilty and arrested him.
While bishops and priests made a beeline to the jail where he was lodged after the arrest, special prayers for the accused were organised in many churches across the state.
Protecting Aasia Bibi is state’s duty, says top judge
Chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar has said blasphemy accused Aasia Bibi ‘was trapped’ without any proofs and that sending her abroad for protection would be tantamount to failure of the state. The CJP, who is currently in London, expressed these views on November 22 while visiting the British Parliament where he was welcomed by British lawmakers of Pakistani origin – Afzal Khan and Faisal Rasheed.
According to a TV channel, the CJP said Aasia Bibi – who was absolved of blasphemy charges by the apex court on October 31 – should get full protection in Pakistan rather than abroad.
“Providing her security is responsibility of the government; it is responsibility of the state of Pakistan to protect life and property of every citizen. If Aasia Bibi is sent abroad or given asylum in any other country it will be failure of the government and the state,” he said.
The CJP, who headed the bench that set the Christian woman free, said every possible effort should be done to provide Bibi more and more protection in Pakistan. “If we set such an example, the chain will continue,” he added.
To a question about putting her name on the Exit Control List (ECL), he said it is not a suitable time to express his thoughts on this question as the case could be brought to his court. “I assure you, however, that our law has no such provision. The judiciary will not give any illegal judgement about it,” he added.
When asked as to why the Supreme Court did not take notice of the recent sit-ins and protest that erupted in the wake of its October 31 verdict in Aasia Bibi case, he said: “Just wait for a few days and you will get the answer to this question.”
Church demolition in a Liaocheng parish sparks members’ outrage
Government authorities in the city of Liaocheng (Shandong province) demolished several buildings that date back to 1930, officially because they lacked the necessary certificates. The structures belonged to the Catholic parish of Chaocheng. Church members did not stand idly by but moved into the remaining building to prevent its demolition. The forced demolition took place on 11 November when local officials came with a demolition team without prior notice. Catholics protested at government offices but did not get any answers. Peacefully, Church members hung a banner on the machinery used in the demolition. It read: “Vehicle of illegal demolition, Come one detain one, Never back down.”
Pope supports Satyarthi for international law against online child abuse
Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi met Pope Francis at Vatican seeking support for a new legally binding International law against ‘online child sexual abuse,’ a statement said. For over a year, Satyarthi has been demanding a legally binding United Nation convention against online child sexual abuse, like pornography and trafficking, which is backed by a new global task force and could provide victims with holistic support.
Berlin prepared to offer asylum to Aasia Bibi
The German government is prepared to offer asylum to the Pakistani Christian Aasia Bibi. Ms Bibi was freed from prison in Pakistan’s Punjab province on 7 November after spending eight years on death row for alleged blasphemy. Muslim co-workers had accused her of insulting Muhammad during an argument when they accused her of contaminating a cup of water because she was a Christian drinking from it. Since her release was announced, Islamist mobs have brought Pakistani cities to a standstill, calling for her and the judges who ruled for her release to be beheaded. Prime Minister Imran Khan caved in to the mobs’ demands by forbidding her to leave the country and allowing an appeal against the Supreme Court ruling.
Priest’s “Five Loaves” restaurants set new trends
The ‘Anjappam’ collective initiated by a Capuchin priest to feed the hungry with love and respect has opened its fourth branch in Changanacherry in Kottayam district in Kerala on Nov 1st.
The latest addition located in Panachikkal Buildings in the heart of Changanassery town was inaugurated by Capuchin Father Bobby Jose Kattikad, who is popularly known as ‘Bobbyachan.”
Fr Kattikad is known for his preaching, writing and evangelization through television, radio and social media.
Anjappam (five loaves), a concept visualized by Fr Kattikad and supported and facilitated by a community of friends who supports financially or otherwise, irrespective of caste or religion.
Anjappam restaurants have no cash desk or bills. Instead it has a box kept inside where people make contributions if they wish to. During the day, the restaurants act as places where good, healthy meals are available at affordable prices and in the evenings, they are transformed into libraries with reading spaces. It also acts as a hub for discussions and book reviews.
The restaurant chain funds itself through voluntary donations by customers. They uphold the thought that donations need not be in terms of money .Anyone who intends to help the poor and needy always have an option available here. This can be as spending one’s time at the restaurants, serving food and helping with cleaning activities.
The restaurants serve only vegetarian food. The members of the Trust take care to ensure that a majority of the vegetables are acquired locally so that they can provide healthy as well as environment friendly food, which is good for both the body and mind.
Anjappam also plans to distribute basic food packs free of cost to the homeless and other needy sections of society.
Anjappam currently has three other branches in Kerala – Ranni, Neyyattinkara and Kozhencherry.
Bishop asks priests to walk the talk
“Walk the talk is to live the gospel values in day today life. The type of leadership in Pope Francis is participatory leadership. Then only any changes shall happen in clericalism,” said Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur on November 7 in his keynote address at the golden jubilee of Morning Star Regional Seminary, Kolkata.
Bishop Nayak asserted that the root of priestly formation lies in virtues of love, joy and humility.
“Merciful approach of God to all is to define the personality of true pastors. Avoiding luxury and embracing simplicity is the ideal of Francis in life,” said Bishop Nayak, an alumnus of the seminary.
The golden jubilee celebrations had a theme “to love all including those who do not love us.”
Sufficient openness for the laity in the Church in areas such as the diocesan councils for marriage, finance and pastoral is urgent, said the prelate.
He said that the next millennium will be of the laity.
Quoting Pope Francis, Bishop Nayak spoke on marching with joy and hope in current challenging situations of the Church.
In another talk, Father Soosai Mannickam, former staff, spoke about Pope Francis’ pastoral ministry expectations from the priests.
The principle character of a pastor is to know his people, (smell the sheep), the forgiving love of God (who am I to judge), the priest said.
Father Mannickam also noted that Pope Francis’ leadership is to inspire all.
“The new way of evangelizing God’s word is living a life in the values of the Kingdom a life of mercy and kindness in holiness.”
Mother Teresa nuns back in India’s adoption system
The Missionaries of Charity (MC) congregation has agreed to resume its service of giving children for adoption. The congregation founded by St Teresa of Kolkata, commonly known as Mother Teresa, dis-continued giving babies from their orphanages for adoption in Oct. 2015 after disagreeing with a new federal law that allowed single and divorced woman to adopt children.
The congregation has revised its stance and will join the centralized adoption service system set up by the government, said Maneka Gandhi, who heads the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
A delegation of three MC nuns including Sister Mary Prema Pierick met the minister on Oct. 29 and decided that children in its 79 homes can go into family care. The nuns in a Nov. 2 press release said they had agreed to register all their childcare homes with respective state governments as man-dated by the Juvenile Justice Act of 2015. Most MC homes for children are already registered and the remaining homes are in the process of completing registration formalities, the release said.