Dalit Christians in India protest appointment of outsider
Christians from the marginalized community in Tamil Nadu say the move highlights discrimination in the Church
Dalit Christians stage a protest in Pondicherry and Cuddalore Archdiocese on Feb. 13 against discrimination faced by Dalits. (Photo supplied)
Dalit Christians in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu held a protest march on Feb. 13 to oppose the appointment of an apostolic administrator from another state.
The Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore was vacant after Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Archbishop Antony Anandarayar from pastoral governance on Jan. 27 after he reached the canonical retirement age of 75.
Dalit Christians hold protest march in southern India
Activists call for an end to discrimination and denial of key church posts for members of the marginalized community
Dalit Christian Liberation Movement leaders protest in Pondicherry-Cuddalore Archdiocese against the discrimination faced by Dalits. (Photo supplied)
Dalit Christians in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu have held a protest march against discrimination faced by Dalits in 45 Catholic parishes of Pondicherry-Cuddalore Archdiocese.
Protesters submitted a memorandum to parish priests on Dec. 20 and requested them to forward it to Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro, India s apostolic nuncio. The memorandum contains Dalit Christians long-standing common demand for equal rights for all,” M. Mary John, president of the Dalit Christian Liberation Movement (DCLM), told UCA News.