Caste craze exploded in Kadappa? Church leadership purposely and conveniently keeps silence still? Is not this silence speaking louder than words?
Catholic Bishop Prasad Gallela belonging to a Dalit
community, of Kadapa was kidnapped on
April 25th 2016. It was the first unheard of caste-propelled crime in the
history of the Catholic Church in
On July 25th it will be three months since the dastardly crime was committed in broad day light and the official church continues to maintain a studied, forced silence to cover up the incident continues. Why?
The crime was committed by three upper caste Reddy Catholic priests of the same diocese. Basically it was an outbreak of Caste conflict – the unwritten law being, High caste people should not take orders from low Castes, not vice versa -- afflicting the Catholic church from top to bottom at all levels, from bishops to priests to religious to laity. Actual perpetrators of the crime were some ten thugs employed and directed by the three priests who were resorting to brute violence as their last ploy to extract plum profitable posts in the diocese, according to reports already published.
The Indian Currents,
an International weekly from
What is most striking, unthinkable and unimaginable is that the Church in India, especially the hierarchical church, which usually makes hell of a noise about attacks from outside against Catholic institutions or personnel, has been observing an ominous, ill-foreboding studied silence ever since the kidnap, except for stray, namesake pronouncements of condemnation from Cardinal Oswald gracious of Bombay, and another joined statement of Andhra bishops condemning violence against minorities, but not uttering a word about the despicable caste-cancer or venom, which is at the core of the crime, which none of them, due to shame, want to accept, though all of them practice it more or less.
Why Ominous Silence Percists?
Cardinal Baselius Cleemis is the Chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. Not even he, to our knowledge, has come out openly to condemn or commiserate with his brother bishop. According to Fr. Bosco sj, mentioned above, Baselius has not even replied to this day, an elaborate letter Fr.Bosco wrote on May 18th 2016 explaining the seriousness of the issue. For brevity sake that letter is held for now. It will be published soon.
So there must be, or could be serious other reasons for this stony silence on the part of the bishops enblock especially in the context of the report that the criminal priests are out from jail, on bail already. How could they get bail so soon without pulls and pushes from high caste loby? What are those reasons? Is Bishop Gallela a “leper” for the fraternity of Indian bishops? Is he guilty of any thing serious which forbids his brother bishops to extend their sympathy and support publicly to him? We are not aware of any. Evem If there are any such allegations, they are to be dealt with separately and not to be mixed up with this pass-time of caste discrimination. Bishops who preach ad nauseam about transparency should not become dishonest crooks who cover up to save one’s face or make profit.
In fact the latest letter we have received and printed
below, from E Jayaraj, General Secretary – SIDCA (South Indian Dalit Catholic
Association) -- is strident against the present
deafening, unsettling silence of the hierarchy. The names of the office
bearers of the association points to its democratic representation in south
What follows first is an introductory note by the General Secretary Jayaraj of SIDCA followed by an open letter mercilessly indicting the malicious silence of top church officials. It is also signed by eleven Christian organizations. Speaking of Cardinal Cleemis the letter of indictment says: “Cardinal Cleemis, the President of CBCI, who went all the way to Kolkata to meet the nun who was in distress (which was very kind of him), and to comfort her, could not find the way to Kadapa to meet and console his own brother Bishop who had to go through the agony of being betrayed and tortured by his own priests.”
To feel the enormity of the pain and betrayal suffered by
the Dalit Catholic community in
Jayaraj’s Introductory Note
Dear Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and Christian Leaders!
Greetings from
There was no response from Catholic leadership condemning the incident of brutal violence done by priests even after the “Open Letter” by Fr. AXJ Bosco SJ to his Eminence Cardinal Cleemis (which is attached). We feel disappointed and angry. Like minded 11 Christian organizations whose members felt shocked and sad have signed the enclosed present letter demanding a fitting response to the Kadapa incident.
In Solidarity
General Secretary - SIDCA
What follows is the Letter Pad of SIDCA containing the names of office bearers, text of their condemnation and signatures of eleven Christian associations supporting the statement
South Indian Dalit Catholic Association
Reg.No.723/2016
Alphone G.Kennedy, James Joseph, Cp,Chinnayan,Esukala Jararaj,Vijay K.Motghkur President Vice President VicePresident, Gen.Secretary, Treasurer
Karnataka Kerala Tamil Nadu Andhra Pradesh Telangana
Date 13-07-2016
Condemning the Silence of the Official Church on the Kidnapping and torturing of Most Rev.Bp.Prasad Gallela by three priests
The updates of the case following the kidnapping of Most Rev.Bp.Prasad Gallela, now and then, come on the TV and News Papers. Recently the Bishop was called for inquiry to the Police Station.Fr.Raja Reddy, Fr.Marreddy and Fr.Vijay Mohan Reddy have come out on bail. All these are in the media. The crime and the scandal are talked about openly. But the Church leadership purposely and conveniently keeps silence still.
An Open letter addressed to Cardinal Cleemis, by Fr.AXJ.Bosco SJ, more than a month ago pointed out the ‘significant silence’ of the hierarchy, CBCI,TCBC as well as CRI.The letter also suggested concrete actions to move forward to do justice. The excuse in the leadership circle seems to be that it is a family matter and it should not be discussed in public. Though the authorities are very much aware that it is a public crime and a scandal, known to all the people through the social media, “They will keep on hearing and they will not understand, they will keep on seeing and they will not perceive” Mt 13/14.(New American Standard Bible.)
Silence on social caste discrimination is a crime; it is a sin against God and humanity. Social discriminations are vehemently condemned by secular leaders. But it is shocking that the Catholic Church and its official Organizations have not responded collectively so far in spite of clear indications of caste discrimination in the Bishop’s kidnapping case in Kadapa. Arch BishopThumma Bala the president of TCBC,who quickly condemned the ‘heinous crime’ and demanded the Police and the investigating agencies to take care of the ‘safety and security of the minorities’, fell silent, once he came to know, the evil forces behind are the three priests belonging to Reddy community.
It looks as though the united strength and efforts of the leadership
of the Catholic Church, come to light only when economic establishments like
schools and colleges, are under threat or property tax and FCRA are discussed,
not when biblical principles of justice and equality which Jesus cherished and
lived for, are at stake. It is utter shame. It threatens the very trust in the
One Holy Catholic and
Cardinal Cleemis, the President of CBCI, who went all the way to Kolkata to meet the nun who was in distress (which was very kind of him), and to comfort her, could not find the way to Kadapa to meet and console his own brother Bishop who had to go through the agony of being betrayed and tortured by his own priests.
It is never too late. For God’s sake do something. Speak out. Silence means that you are abetting the crime and encouraging the criminals.
If you are interested, you may initiate actions that will do good to the whole Church including those suggested to you earlier in the open letter.
In solidarity
1.South Indian Dalit Cathollic Association (SIDCA) |
Vijay Kumar
Mothukuri |
2.United Front for Dalit Christian Rights (UFDCR) |
KRW Yesudas IAS Retd. |
3.National Counsil of Dalit Christians (NCDC) |
B. Danam IAS Retd. |
4.Catholic Association, |
Advocate James Sylvestor |
5.Citizens Forum for Justice |
Sleeva Galleli |
6.Telengana Christian Council |
Lion C Francis |
7.Montfort Social Institute (MSI) |
Bro. Vargheese Theekanath |
8.CITRA – Jesuit Social Centre |
Fr. AXJ Bosco SJ |
9.Domestic Workers Movement |
Sr. Lissy Joseph |
10.Forum of Religious for Justice and Peace |
Sr. Manju Kulapuram |
11.Young Mens Christian Association (YMCA) |
Robert Surya Prakash |
Note: this article, like all other important ones, will be forwarded to all Indian bishops for their convenient, leisurely. prayerful reflection and action. Ccv editor
Contact at: jameskottoor@gmail.com, Mob.9446219203
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Fr. Bosco sj Reacts to Kidnap article
Dear dr. james
Thank you very
much for your strong letter and the wide publicity that you are giving to the
Kadapa incident. It is
I’ll ask Mr .Jeyaraj to send the Emails of the office bearers of SIDCA. We too are contacting as many people as we can.
Best wishes
AXJ.Bosco SJ, Kadappa