ASIA/INDIA – Religious Forum for Justice and Peace: “Firm in faith, alongside the oppressed in the midst of tribulation”

ASIA/INDIA Religious Forum for Justice and Peace – “Firm in Faith, alongside the Opplied in the midst tribulation”

Hyderabad (Agenzia Fides – “To be prophets within a Church often disfigured through ritualism, and to remain steadfast faith, anchored in Christ Jesus in the midst of all the trials that arise from choosing to stand beside the poor and oppressed.” This is the intention of 16 Indian states’ religious institutes and congregations who gathered in Hyderabad (Indian State of Telangana) for a national convention of “Forum of Religious for justice & peace”.
Agenzia Fides received the final declaration of conference. It affirms the goal of “deepening and responding to the signs of time” starting with the Apostolic Letter of Pope Francis, which was sent to all consecrated persons on the occasion of Year of Consecrated Life (November 21, 2014.
Sister M. Nirmalini is the national president of “Conference of Religious of India”. She recalled that Pope Benedict asked for consecrated lives to “awakening the world”, to be witnesses to the world that another way of being and acting is possible, a prophetic manner of life. The President stated that “To awaken all the world” – religious must be open to the joys and cries of the world and to the call from God. Everything matters, regardless of where we are, what our eyes see, and how we hear. We see the world as a place of incredible love, kindness and generosity. But we also see people and places that suffer unnecessarily and cry out for help. We are called upon to respond.
Meera Sanghamitra (leader of the National Alliance for Peoples’ Movements) addressed the pressing social issues that agitate Indian society and indicated the paths to be followed, “hope and healing and harmony, as much as the struggle, solidarity, and commitment in today’s social, political and economic context.”
This is the analysis on the situation in India, as proposed by the document o Indian consecrated persons. “As religious dedicated to justice and peace, according to the Final Declaration of the Forum sent Fides, We express our concern about the deterioration the condition of our nation at all fronts. India now ranks at the bottom on the global scale of indicators. India’s poor are becoming more and more poorer each day, while the wealthy and powerful continue to make huge profits from their expenditures and accumulate enormous wealth. Adivasis (tribal) are being evicted from their lands. Dalits and subordinate groups are still denied dignity equality and justice. Religious minorities (especially Muslims, Christians) are the targets of hate speech, persecution, and politicians continue to denigrate, demonize, and demonize them for their purposes of division and violence. Intolerance is increasing. Today, anti-conversion laws that are not constitutionally valid take center stage. Labor Codes violate workers’ rights and favor large, profit-making corporations. When the March 2020 lockdown was announced, it was clear that migrant workers were in dire need of help. Companies that want to endanger their livelihoods are being opposed by fishermen in Kerala and other parts. The lives of the poor have been severely affected by spiraling inflation and unemployment.
The text continues to lament that “the new national educational policy goes against the poor” and “the minorities are being ignored.” Corruption is rampant and crony capitalism is rampant. In the Environmental Performance Index 2022 (EPI), India ranked last (18 out of 180 countries). “Human rights defenders who stand up against the government are often attacked, imprisoned, and even killed (as we experienced with the death of our brother, the Jesuit Stan Swamy).
The religious express deep sadness at the destruction of the democratic, pluralistic, and secular fabric in their country. They call on the Church for genuine “synodality”, to abandon “a patriarchal and clerical mentality” that also practices discrimination within the Church, and to show courage and transparency.
As “disciples rooted and inspired by Jesus, conscious that personal transformation is a first step towards social change, ready to actualize Indian values enshrined within the Constitution of India,” Indian religious state: “We will continue our efforts to build more inclusive communities, transcending religio-ethnic divisions and all forms of sectarianism” and emphasize “the involvement in lives of the poor, marginalized, excluded, exploited, and vulnerable”. This will enable us respond effectively and prophetically the the signs of times for a better just and peaceful society.
The Forum’s final goal is to “encourage more and younger men & women religious, committed towards the themes of justice & peace”. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 26/9/2022)

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