Christians Slam Church Invite to PM Modi

NEW DELHI: An invitation by the powerful Syro Malabar Catholic Church to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for a seminar in New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan on February 17, 2015 has snowballed into a major controversy that shows the stress within the small religious minority since the Bharatiya Janata Party came into power and triggered a sharp escalation in hate crimes in several states and the national capital.

Theologians and social activists have planned the seminar which many think has been organised to give PM Modi an opportunity to have his say after the bad press his government has received in recent weeks.

The invitation is being seen as a move to counter strong statements issued in recent days by the supra-ritual Catholic Bishops Conference of India in New Delhi, and the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the Latin Rite in their meeting in Bangalore. More than 100 bishops had also taken out a candlelight procession in Bangalore protesting the rise in incidents of violence and hate crimes against the Christian community by hoodlums allegedly belonging to the Sangh Parivar.

The Christian community has been protesting against the attack on churches in and around Delhi, questioning PM Modi’s complete silence on the issue. Significantly following two interventions by US President Barack Obama against religious intolerance in India, the Prime Minister broke his silence for the first time on Friday after an attack on a convent school Holy Child Auxilium School in Delhi’s posh South Delhi colony Vasant Vihar. A break-in and theft as described by the police had the PM summoning the Delhi Police chief B.S. Bassi and urging immediate action.

Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi's chief minister-designate, also condemned the incident and tweeted that such acts "will not be tolerated."

Father Dominic Emmanuel, spokesperson of the Delhi Archdiocese, said, "Certain people came at night, broke the CCTV camera, went into the principal's room and ransacked it. Christians are being targeted."

The Catholic Church has three traditional liturgical Rites – the Syro Malabar and Syro Malankara Catholic churches originating in Kerala, and the Latin Rite. All three are members of the worldwide Catholic Church with Pope Francis as its head in the Vatican. Syro Malankara Catholicos Cardinal Cleemis, currently heads the CBCI. The Latin Rite conference is led by Mumbai Cardinal Oswald Gracias, who is an advisor to the Pope. The Syro Malabar church has Cardinal Alencherry as the head of its Synod.

The Modi government is smarting under strong remarks by President Pranab Mukherjee in his Address to the Nation this Republic Day, followed by the sharp statements by US president Barack Obama during his Town Hall meeting in New Delhi on January 27, and his statement at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC that the regions violence would “shock Mahatma Gandhi”.

The country had seen almost 150 cases of violence against the community in 2014, and a loud campaign by the Sangh Parivar of Ghar Wapsi and making India free of Christianity, and Islam. The national capital had seen arson, damage and desecration in five churches in the two months around Christmas. On 5th February, activists, Nuns and priests were assaulted by the Delhi police who arrested them to pre-empt a protest march to the house of Union Home Minister, Mr. Rajnath Singh.

There was particular anger at PM Modi’s refusal to speak out on the targeted violence against the minority community. The Prime Minister’s gruff rebuff to a Christian delegation which called on him on the eve of Christmas last year, was also seen in this context. Community leaders have also alleged that intelligence agencies and the Ministry of Home Affairs is being used to put pressure on churches and their NGOs and institutions.

The controversy first came into the open with an email on 9 February by Fr. Mathew Moothasseril who said the diocese of Faridabad, and Carmelite congregations were jointly organizing a national seminar on Challenges of Religious Life in contemporary India at Vigyan Bhawan on 17th February 2015. The seminar would be followed by a meeting in which the Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, would the chief guest.

A Jesuit provincial chief wrote to the hosts “A decision of this nature, made without any application of mind is deplorable to say the least. I’m shocked by the assertion, “Cardinal George Alencherry will preside the meeting. Papal Nuncio, Archbishops and bishops will be present.” Were they aware that Maunibaba Narendra Modi was to be present for this meet? I salute those who have opposed this move and have opted to stay away from this National Shamenar that adds one more challenge not just to Religious life but to life as a citizen of a democratic country.’

A senior professor of theology and well known author said “It is shocking that you have invited the PM Shri Narendra Modi as Chief Guest for a National Seminar on "Challenges of Religious Life"..... In times when the whole Christian community is reeling under persecutions from the Hindutva lobby and churches are being burned in Delhi and other places, is it not insensitive if not downright stupid to be inviting the "silent" PM and giving him the much-needed legitimacy that he is seeking? I would request you to please withdraw the invitation.... I am not sure whether you have the approval of the CMI and the CMC congregations whom you seem to represent.”

Another senior priest told Fr Moothasseril “It pains and saddens me that you and other organizers do not seem to be aware of what is happening to the Christians and other minorities in India today. We have just prepared a 215- pages dossier on the subject. Academics, intellectuals and other civil society leaders have been unequivocal in their condemnation of what is taking place. It is extremely unfortunate that so-called disciples of Jesus specially Christian priests and religious do not have the courage to play a prophetic role by taking the side of truth and justice. In the larger interests of all - you must withdraw your invitation to the Prime Minister.”

Another Jesuit, internationally celebrated as a human rights activist, said “I am surprised to see that the diocese of Faridabad and CMI and CMC are organising a seminar on Challenges of Religious Life in contemporary India at Vigyan Bhawan followed by a meeting with PM. In the midst of the attacks on churches in Delhi and elsewhere and the gar Wapsi programmes to which PM has kept a deafening silence. I think it is not the right action to have a meeting with him as the chief guest.. I strongly protest against this kind of moves and gestures which do not augur well both for religious life in particular and for Christians in general.”

Academician and noted activist of Bangalore said the invitation to PM Modi was “a shame on two counts. Pope Francis is speaking of a Church of the Poor. A seminar of the type could have been arranged in the slums or near where the poor live or an ordinary center. Why Vigyan Bhawan? The place symbolizes values. When the venue is like that of Herod's Palace, Herod may have to be invited to remain in his company. Mere protests or objecting to the venue may not be enough. One may have to refer this kind of subversion of religious life and values to the Vatican.”

Even in the past, attempts by some church heads to cozy upto leaders of the BJP at State and central levels of party and government have invited a sharp response from the community.

Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church, will deliver the presidential address at the seminar. Mr. P. J. Kurian, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Union Finance Minister, Mr. Arun Jaitley, and Ranchi Cardinal Telesphore Toppo are also invited.

The seminar will focus on recently canonized Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara who died in 1871 at the age of 66, started an indigenous monastic life, a combination of contemplation and active ministry, with the help of two other priests. His campaign to start a school with every church, paved the way for spreading education in Kerala, which now tops the country for literacy rate. The other person focused is Saint Euphrasia, who lived between 1877 and 1952, was a mystic, devoted to prayer.

The hosts say the Church has been part of the cultural heritage of the nation. A press release said Indian cultural heritage is characterized by unity in diversity. The Christian culture is certainly a contribution to the cultural heritage if India. The press release reiterated the Church’s loyalty to the nation, its constitution and legitimately constituted authorities.