Letters

Vatican document on ‘Grave Violations of Human Dignity’

The much-awaited Vatican Declaration on Human Dignity was issued on April 8 by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.While the instructions on sex and gender grabbed the headlines globally, the document has several aspects of human dignity that have focused on critically significant concerns that need greater attention and implementation.Besides an introductory ‘Presentation’ drafted by Cardinal Fernadez, the document consists of 66 numbered paragraphs as well as 116 footnotes which only illustrates how diverse sources enriched it. The writings and speeches of Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis are cited all along, apart from the other magisterial texts.The Prefect of DDF remarks that the Declaration has been in the making for at least five years, and it is out only after numerous consultations and drafts. The long process, in which several times Pope Francis got involved, ‘reflects the gravity and centrality of the theme of dignity in Christian thought,’ the cardinal noted.Happily, the publication of Dignitas Infinita (on Human Dignity) coincides with the 75th anniversary of ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights,’ issued by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.After explaining how Dignity is central to Christian thought and how the Church constantly strives to proclaim, promote and guarantee human dignity, it states that human dignity is the fountain from which rights and dut

Is conversation changing?

Last year, as part of a grassroots consultation for the Synod on Synodality. I was invited to an international conference organized by Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram (Pontifical Athenaeum) Bengaluru, and asked to speak on: “What can I do to make the Indian Church more Synodal?” My spontaneous response was one word: “Nothing!” because the structures of the Church do not permit synodality. We have a hierarchy in place, which is purportedly divinely instituted, making all decision-making and leadership in the Church the preserve of the clergy. Canon law ensures that this inequality is maintained. The non-ordained can only function within parameters defined by the ordained, making it impossible to journey together as “co-responsible collaborators” as there can be no co-responsibility without equality. Even in the 21st century, when across the world special efforts are being made to include women at the table that sets the agenda, women are still excluded from key decisions in the Catholic Church. They may be in parish councils but they have little say in how the parish is run. Sacramental ordination is denied to them because of a humiliating trivialisation of their God-given vocations. Only in exceptional cases are women allowed to preach. In pastoral work women continue to encounter resistance, and whatever authority they have is derived from the “permission” of the parish priest or bishop. They suffer abuse by men in the Church and are denied justice and even comp

SHAME ON STATE BANK OF INDIA

ELECTORAL BONDS: VOTER IS THE KING, NOT THE RULER

A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on February 15 unanimously struck down the anonymous Electoral Bonds Scheme stating, that it violated the right to information under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and therefore it is unconstitutional. The Centre’s Electoral Bonds Scheme facilitated anonymous political donations. The Central Government introduced certain amendments through the Finance Act, 2017. The amendments made three key changes, such as: (1) An amendment to the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RoPA), that exempted the political parties from publishing the details of contributions received through electoral bonds in “Contribution Reports.” (2) Amendment to the Income Tax Act 1961, that exempted the political parties from keeping a detailed record of contributions received through Electoral Bonds. (3) Amendment to the Companies ACT, 2013, that removed any obligation on companies to maintain details of donations made to political parties- a simple total figure was deemed sufficient. There were two crucial questions before the Constitution Bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, J B Pardiwals and Manoj Misra. First was, whether the non-disclosure of information on voluntary contributions to political parties according to the Electoral Bonds Scheme and the amendments to Section 29C of Representation of the People Act, Section 13A (b) of the Income Tax Act were violative of the right to information und

Graham Staines and Ram Temple in Ayodhya

Is there anything common between Graham Staines, the Australian missionary burned to death by Bajrang Dal activists and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya? There was none. However, from January 22 there will be. The day Staines and his two young sons were burned to death and the day Ram temple was inaugurated will be the same. Is this accidental or purposely done? One would not know easily. But this occasion calls for certain reflections and questions for every Indian citizen. Lest we forget For many today the name of Graham Staines may be strange and unknown. He was an Australian missionary who had worked silently for 35 years serving the poorest of the poor tribals and leprosy patients in Odisha. Allegations of conversion, which was part of the Hindutva project, were raised repeatedly. It reached a pitch so feverish that a mob of men dared to burn Staines and his two young sons in the middle of the night of January 22, 1999. One of the cruelest acts in Indian history. Gladys Staines, the wife of the murdered evangelist, forgave the murderers and continued to serve the poor for five more years , before she returned to Australia in 2004. Ram Temple The feverish or almost hysterical preparations for the inauguration of the temple and accompanying controversies are not the matter for this reflection. Today, Ram Temple has become a passion for millions of Hindus and a rallying point for political mobilization. Let that be. One should, however, continue to ask the question, how muc