Editorial

The Silence is deafening

Opinion | Editorial | John S. Shilshi | 08-Mar-2024

The year 2023 ended somewhat on an unpleasant note for the Catholic Church, as there was a huge controversy over Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops attending a Christmas gathering on an invitation extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Christian publications, web portals, and channels were replete with critical comments, criticising the church hierarchy for cozying up with a prime minister, whom they alleged had always maintained unexplained silence whenever Christians were attacked or harassed across the country. Participating in a conference organized by a group of activists on December 29, 2023, prominent Christian leaders pointed out that “the summer of 2023 began with the burning of churches and the killing of Christians in the valley of Imphal in Manipur, and the year ended with Christian leaders felicitating the Prime Minister on Christmas for his great contribution to the welfare of this small community and the county at large.”.

There were, however, a few who thought otherwise—people who felt that it would have been unkind on the part of the Church hierarchy to regret an invite from the country’s Prime Minister, and may sent a wrong message to the Indian public at large of Christians being an indifferent community had the invitation been regretted. There were also the others who opted for the comfort of the fence, not bold enough to be on either side of the opinion divide. Our view, however, was different from all of these. We thought the question was not “Why they attended, but why they didn’t ask?”

During that high-profile gathering, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the world the impression that his relationship with some of the Catholic Church hierarchy was most cordial, addressing them by first names and appreciating their roles in ensuring that the meeting was possible. The occasion could have been the tmost ideal time to tell the Prime Minister how concern Christians are over the silence he maintains when Christians were targeted. Better still, there would have been someone politely suggesting that the kind gesture  he extended would hopefully send a strong signal to those in a habit of targeting Christians.

Incidentally, barely a month after the Prime Minister met the Christian leaders and applauded the contributions of the community in the fields of education, social service, and nation-building, the Chief Minister of Chhatisgarh, Vishnu Deo Sai, vowed to end Christian activities in his state. He even went to the extent of labelling education and health services provided by Christians as acts of conversion. In Assam, pro-Hindu organizations are targeting Christian institutes, nicknaming them as centres of conversion. Both in Tripura and Assam, the Janjati Dharam Sanskar Suraksha Manch suddenly became mindful of championing for tribal rights. On the pretext of protecting tribal identity, they demanded delisting of tribal Christians from the country’s Schedule Tribe List. Are they really concerned about safegarding the interests of tribals? If so, why have they not talked about Christian missionaries who have immensely contributed towards improving tribal literature, culture and language?

The writings on the walls, therefore, are very clear. What is discouraging to note however is, despite so many things happenings around us, we do not find a concerted Catholic voice, or, for that matter, a unified Christian voice of condemnation, expression of concern, or standing up against violations of fundamental rights that Christians go through. Even in extreme cases like Manipur, where Christians and churches were attacked systematically, the church hierarchy is muted, as are our esteemed lay organizations in different states, at least in the North East. This silence, to say the least, is deafening. While we understand the various compulsions on hand, we also recognise the need to be vocal when necessary, because maintaining a convenient silence amounts to accepting the false narrative spread against Christians. Building a relationship with the Prime Minister was wisdom, but such relationship and bonhomie must embolden leaders to speak up when necessary, collectively or singly, either at personal level or through official channels. Then only will a friendship of any level be accepted as meaningful.

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