India's Bishops Welcome Resolution on Untouchability
India's Bishops Welcome Resolution on Untouchability
May 23, 2007
Greenwood Village, CO – Catholic Bishops of India have welcomed a resolution in U.S. Congress asking for an end to Untouchability, according to a report by AsiaNews.
Congressman Trent Franks of Arizona introduced the resolution on May 2 following a briefing on the plight of Dalit women before the US Congressional Human Rights Caucus. In his speech he asked "the Indian government and the world community to look with compassion upon India's untouchables and reach out to one of the most oppressed peoples on earth.''
AsiaNews reported that the Catholic bishops' conference of India expressed its thankfulness that the issue is being brought to light. According to the story:
“Father Arokiaraj Cosmon, the executive secretary of the episcopal commission on Dalits, explained the tragic nature of the caste system, highlighted in the resolution.
‘Dalits' conditions are well-known both at home and abroad,’ the priest said. ‘They are economically and socially ostracized, denied equal access to education and political life.
‘Out of 250 million of them, there are 16 million who are twice as penalized because they are Christian.’
‘Most violence visited upon Dalits affects women,’ Father Cosmon continued. "They cannot report crimes, especially sex crimes, or ask for police assistance because what they say is not taken into consideration.
‘Most lawyers and police officers come from the upper castes and are not well disposed towards victims.’
This support from Catholic Bishops is welcome news to the Dalit Freedom Network and to supporters of the resolution in Congress. “We hope that this statement by the Catholics in India will encourage more Members of Congress to sign on to the resolution,” said Nanci Ricks, President of the Dalit Freedom Network. “This is an historic resolution. When it is passed, it will be a strong message of hope for all Dalits in India.
The resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 139, would encourage all United States businesses and government agencies to work to end Untouchability and to ensure that no US citizens living in India practice Caste discrimination. The resolution would be the first of its kind in the US Congress. The resolution can be found here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.con.res.00139:
The Dalit Freedom Network’s mission is to partner with the Dalits (India’s Untouchables) in their quest for religious freedom, social justice, and human dignity by mobilizing human, informational, and financial resources. Their website is: www.dalitnetwork.org
May 23, 2007
Greenwood Village, CO – Catholic Bishops of India have welcomed a resolution in U.S. Congress asking for an end to Untouchability, according to a report by AsiaNews.
Congressman Trent Franks of Arizona introduced the resolution on May 2 following a briefing on the plight of Dalit women before the US Congressional Human Rights Caucus. In his speech he asked "the Indian government and the world community to look with compassion upon India's untouchables and reach out to one of the most oppressed peoples on earth.''
AsiaNews reported that the Catholic bishops' conference of India expressed its thankfulness that the issue is being brought to light. According to the story:
“Father Arokiaraj Cosmon, the executive secretary of the episcopal commission on Dalits, explained the tragic nature of the caste system, highlighted in the resolution.
‘Dalits' conditions are well-known both at home and abroad,’ the priest said. ‘They are economically and socially ostracized, denied equal access to education and political life.
‘Out of 250 million of them, there are 16 million who are twice as penalized because they are Christian.’
‘Most violence visited upon Dalits affects women,’ Father Cosmon continued. "They cannot report crimes, especially sex crimes, or ask for police assistance because what they say is not taken into consideration.
‘Most lawyers and police officers come from the upper castes and are not well disposed towards victims.’
This support from Catholic Bishops is welcome news to the Dalit Freedom Network and to supporters of the resolution in Congress. “We hope that this statement by the Catholics in India will encourage more Members of Congress to sign on to the resolution,” said Nanci Ricks, President of the Dalit Freedom Network. “This is an historic resolution. When it is passed, it will be a strong message of hope for all Dalits in India.
The resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 139, would encourage all United States businesses and government agencies to work to end Untouchability and to ensure that no US citizens living in India practice Caste discrimination. The resolution would be the first of its kind in the US Congress. The resolution can be found here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.con.res.00139:
The Dalit Freedom Network’s mission is to partner with the Dalits (India’s Untouchables) in their quest for religious freedom, social justice, and human dignity by mobilizing human, informational, and financial resources. Their website is: www.dalitnetwork.org
posted by Journey at 9:26 AM
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