That if you are a Christian living in India, your life may be in danger...I would understand it if someone told me that this was the case in China - the most populous Nation in the World but not with respect to its Second Most Populous... India.
So where did I learn of this?
Our Wonderful Priest tipped me to this recently when he told me that he was worried that Catholic Churches would be burned. I thought he was talking about here in Canada even though his prophesy preceded the spate of Church burnings in this country. "No" he countered - "in my country of birth India".
I was simply astounded. So I looked into it:
There are numerous religions practiced in India but the top 4 are Hindu (80%), Muslim (14%), Christian with a little over 2%, and Sikh* at slightly less that 2%. It's Prime Minister - Narendra Modi, is Hindu.
*The history of Sikh discontent living under the Hindu majority rule is widely known but I view this to be more of a political issue since the Sikh's live primarily in the Punjab and are desirous of gaining independence from India.
Moreover, studies show that India consistently scores very high for Social Hostilities much of which is directed against the low-caste Dalits** but also includes Buddhists, Christians, Jains, Muslims and Sikhs.
**Dalit women are disproportionately victims of sexual violence due to their low level caste at the hands of Hindu Extremists.
Given this background, it is not surprising that I found Father Raymond De Souza's recent article in a National Post Edition entitled 'Death Of Jailed Priest A Stain On India' of great interest. His article, as the title suggests, was primarily in regard to the death of Jesuit Priest Father Stan Swamy earlier this month but shines a spotlight on Prime Minister Modi's governing Bharatiya Janata Party and how it has become "increasingly authoritarian particularly in its treatment of religious minorities the largest being Muslims...and includes Christians".
Father Swamy is a particularly sad case of such discrimination. At the age of 84 and in poor health, he died after 9 months in custody on "unfounded charges" after receiving negligible to no medical treatment. "A cross party alliance of India's opposition parties denounced his inhumane ...treatment". So what did the Good Father do to deserve such ill treatment? Why he devoted his life to defending the rights of Indigenous Peoples usually called 'Adivasis'. For his lifetime advocacy on their behalf, he was accused of Terrorism.
Father De Souza points out in his article that sadly this is not an isolated incident since "more than 300,000 (70%) of India's prisoners are 'Undertrials' prisoners awaiting trial" and held without bail. The majority of the undertrials "come from the socially weaker communities". Given this, maybe we should hereafter refer to Father Swamy as Saint Stan !!
I am bringing this to your attention for two reasons. First, it exemplifies the good the Church does throughout the World bringing the Love of God and of his Son Jesus to us all.
But secondly and and perhaps of even greater importance, it demonstrates clearly that even Democratic Countries can foster serious Human Rights Abuses. I have always thought of India as a peaceful nation ...a counterbalance to equally populous China and an ever more serious military threat for what is left of the Free World. If we lose India and its over 1 Billion population the pendulum will really begin to swing even more toward Authoritarianism. All the while America is in decline with its Progressive Wokeism.
So, to conclude, I honestly did not know the truth about India and the abuse of its minorities and I honestly do not have an answer as to what can be done about it.
Sad to Say.
As I See It...
K.D. Galagher
