Indian bishops work on Dalit policy
(Story by Santhosh Digal – Matters India) New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) is preparing a policy for Dalits.
A committee of bishops has almost completed a draft policy to present at the next CBCI biennial plenary in March 2016, says Fr. Z. Devasagaya Raj, secretary of the CBCI Office that deals with Dalit and Backward Caste groups.
The decision to prepare a CBCI Policy for Dalits was approved at the 126th meeting of the CBCI Standing Committee held at St. John’s, Bangalore, September 23-25.
Father Raj says the committee is preparing the policy after reviewing programs and activities that dioceses, regions, congregations and Church centers have introduced for the integral development of the Dalit Christians.
As part of preparing the policy, the CBCI office has sent to all bishops in India a questionnaire to gather information about best practices for Dalit emancipation. These details will be narrated under the proposed topic ‘Journey of CBCI in empowering the Dalits’. The draft policy will mention dioceses and congregations with best examples of Dalit practices.
