By Diana Mary Pala
Many have questioned the role of the church during societal crises. The intellectuals of society air their views and opinions through articles and letters to the editor. One common question raised by many is, “What is the Church and her leaders doing? I believe this is an apt question to be raised by any concerned citizen who speaks for the poor.
Looking at the North Eastern scenario and more especially of Meghalaya, one finds that Christian missionaries and mission run schools and colleges play a vital role in the intellectual development of the people but not in the socio-economic uplift of the weaker sections of the society. Indeed, what is the Church and her leaders doing for the poor especially when there is chaos and disharmony among various groups of people in the society? The answer is simple. The Church and her leaders are busy minting money through various schools and colleges and seeking their own comforts. They are least bothered about what happens to the common people who become victims of the madness of NGO’s and militant groups. They wouldn’t open their mouths to defend the poor whom they are called upon to serve and care daily.
I remember reading about religious life or monastic life in ancient times. It was a way of life chosen by people who gave up worldly pleasures and comforts and to live an austere life thereby experiencing divine peace in their hearts. They spent their time in prayer and setting a good example for the rest of humanity. They are least bothered about earthly comforts. The monks would move from place to place begging for alms and cultivating a small plot of land and thereby sustain themselves. They lived at the mercy of the generous people. Gone is the golden era when the monks and religious people lived a life of austerity and true to the call that they have received from above.
Today the ground realities of religious life are totally different. We are all aware of the manner in which the Church and her leaders are functioning. Church run institutions have become places for minting money and enjoying a comfortable life. Ordinary people cannot compete with these church run institutions and their way of life. They have the means to purchase the latest gadgets, vehicles, huge plots of land in and around the cities; they can build magnificent buildings; they can travel by flight and reach their destinations comfortably at the earliest. They can afford to go for better treatment in metropolitan cities and also have huge amounts as fixed deposits and so and so forth…
The heads of religious congregations (the local superior- provincials) are busy towards the end of the year bargaining with the principals or heads of various centers, schools and colleges to transfer the maximum profit to the headquarters for their comforts. Anyone who opposes such actions of the superior is immediately transferred to a remote village. Those who compromise with such superiors are usually awarded a longer tenure as principals of colleges and schools. This is how the so called religious and the church leaders function at present. So tell me when do the church and her leaders have time to sit and chalk out strategies to air their voices and to come to aid of the ordinary people who constantly suffer from such atrocities by the NGO,s and pressure groups? Church leaders preach too many good things but fail to practice it in their lives. They are like whitewashed tombs going around amassing comforts for their future security.
I was told that in South India, church leaders play a vital role in speaking for the poor and the weak. There the diocesan Bishops are very powerful and have say in the everyday life of the people. They often write pastoral letters to the faithful condemning injustices and atrocities unleashed by the government or any other institution. These pastoral letters written by the Bishops, are also read out in church on Sundays and the faithful are made aware of their basic rights and responsibilities. Hence ordinary people feel protected since there are people to fight for their cause and existence. The government or other organizations think twice use muscle or money power. Can the bishops of Northeast India do such things for their faithful?
I recall when the Archbishop of Shillong Most. Rev. Hubert Rosario died, our own people demanded a local person to replace him. There came Archbishop Tarcisius Resto and now Archbishop Dominic Jala, heading the archdiocese of Shillong. What is the present Archbishop doing to help the common people who are constantly affected by the bandh culture? Is he able to write any pastoral letters to the faithful over the last 13 years as Head of the diocese and speak for the voiceless of society? Or is he happy with the position he holds? Can he not come out of his comfort zone and feel the misery and plight of the people? Can his voice, in defense of the poor, be heard by the government and NGO,s? Can he be found in Shillong most of the times to see and experience the problems of people? God appointed prophets, in the Old Testament of the Bible to liberate the people from their misery and to help them to stand against injustices and atrocities. Can the present church leaders do that?
For that the Church should first and foremost be neutral and rise above cultural barriers. People need to feel comfortable that there is no distinction being made in the church between tribal and non-tribal. The Church is one and the faithful are also one. But now I fear that in the church run institutions also these mad concepts of tribal priest or religious and non-tribal priest and religious, has crept in and there is a fight as to who would be appointed as the principal of a school or college or head an institution. Appointments and transfers are also made based on this mad concept of one’s identity as tribal or non-tribal and not anymore as capable priest and religious who can run the institutions effectively. So when there is such craving for power and positions among church leaders, where is the time for them to listen and understand the misery of the people at large?
Practically all Church run schools and colleges are registered as Charitable Trusts/Societies to exempt themselves from income tax. In reality they do no charitable works for the people and students whom they educate. A student who fails to clear the monthly tuition fees before the due date does not get his/her admit card or the result is withheld until he/she pays the school fees. So where is the charity being practiced by the missionary institutions? Many of the priests have forgotten that they are ordained as priests to administer sacraments and be of help to the poor. What I see in our society is that, priests and religious have time only to run around efficient lawyers and auditors to tidy up their yearly accounts and to present that before the Home Ministry.
Can the government do something to regulate the fee structure of the schools and check the total profit made at the end of the year and accordingly tax them? If this money-making venture is regulated many will think carefully before they fight to become the principal of a city based school or college. They would then be more willing to help the poor people. Let the government wake up! Let the Church and religious congregations wake up to see the misery of the poor and be a voice for the voiceless. Stand for the rights of the people whom they are called upon to serve.