29 September 2014 1 2 29 September 2014 Advt. TTAdvt. ariffariffariff Over all size 21.5 cms x 27cms O Print area 18 cms x 25.5 cms A WEEKLY FAMILY FAVOURITE Full pg. back Colour (19 cms x 24 cms) Rs. 15,000 Center spread colour(39 cms x 23.5 cms Rs. 15,000 Vol.23 No.39 September 29, 2014 Rs.5/- Full pg. inside Cover colour(18 cms x 24 cms) Rs. 10,000 99, Perin Nariman Street, Fort, Mumbai - 400 001. Full pg. inner colour (18 cms x 24 cms) Rs. 8,000 Tel: 2269 35 78 / 2265 49 24 : 2264 0996 Half pg. 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(1 year The Secular Citizen FREE) Contents pg. 3 - Will synod bishops grasp the Will synod bishops grasp the peculiar Indian situation? pg. 5 - Mosul, the Islamic State peculiar Indian situation? "bans Christians from school" t least one Indian archbishop will speak at the pg. 6 - Reader's Views Synod on the Family called by Pope Francis in pg. 7 - East Indians - A rich legacy ARome a fortnight from now. pg 8 - What Catholics could learn Having served in Delhi as the apostolic nuncio at a from the Dalai Lama critical time in the country’s political history, Lorenzo pg 12 - CCCI Excellence Awards Cardinal Baldisseri is an old India hand. But will that be sufficient to have post-synod documents reflect the South pg 15 - Sacrament of Marriage is a Asian reality as a matter of conjecture, and hope? BY JOHN DAYAL Covenant Families in India share with their global counterparts many issues, espe- pg 16 - Tips For Smart Kitchen Work cially those relating to the impact of globalization, internet pornography, pg 17 - 'Thalis' From Around India alcoholism, drug use among youths, and the intrusion of information technol- pg 18 - Colours! Colours! Colours! ogy and reproductive sciences. pg 13 - Inspiration! There are emerging challenges of pre-marital and extramarital sex, teen pg 20 - Matrimonials pregnancies, and the prevalence of contraception. Employment worries, health issues and societal pressures have added to mental problems, stress, and pg 22 - Vatican astronomer says tensions in marriages and the family. there's life out there Church people, including priests and women religious, are lacking in both numbers and training to be effective counselors, so pastoral care is therefore minimal in most areas. We have a few cases of pastoral care for the LGBT community, but same Subscriptions Rate: sex marriage is almost entirely unknown. One year (anywhere in India) Rs. 250 Pedophilia exists, but is not at a crisis point, either in the lay faithful, or in Three years (anywhere in India) Rs. 700 the clergy. Five years (anywhere in India) Rs. 1000 Prostitution and trafficking in women is illegal, but has huge implications in India where it is widespread. Catholic women are also victims of this in several One year (outside India) Rs. 2500 states. E-paper Edition Divorce rates remain low [though the Church has conducted no conclu- sent anywhere in the world (by email) sive survey on this issue and desegregated data from government surveys is not One year Rs. 600 or US $ 15 available to be able to quantify trends], but there is an increasing demand by Two years Rs. 1000 or US $ 25 women for reforms in civil and Church laws on inheritance, annulment -- including civil divorce -- and custody of children. Cover : Archbishop and Bishops of But there are several family issues that are rooted in the peculiar situation Karnataka Meet Governor on Persecu- of India, with its population of multiple ethnicities, racial groups and cultural tion of Christians in Iraq, Syria identities -- some of which are insulated from external influences. (Report on pg. 10) (Contd.. on p. 4) 29 September 2014 3 (Contd.. from p. 3) stems from the fact that the Catholic rare. In urban areas, the laity therefore community is a very small minority. does not take teachings of the Church The prevalence of caste has deep Of India’s 1.25 billion people [ac- seriously, other than observing pious implications. The deep-rooted cultural cording to the 2011 census], Chris- rituals, coming for Mass, Novenas and patriarchy has its impact on the role tians constitute just 2.3 percent of the Feasts. There are exceptions in some and status of women, including Catho- total population. Of these 26 million or areas on the west coast, and in some lic women. so, Catholics account for just 17 mil- tribal areas. lion. The study of family life among From this flows the rampant -- and These Catholics are divided Catholics -- and among other Christian growing -- issue of dowry, which has to among the Latin, Syro-Malabar and denominations -- in India remains a be paid by the parents of a bride to the Syro Malankara rites. very imperfect and inadequate science, bridegroom. While the Latin Rite is the domi- and that must certainly disturb the This has led to a great social and nant, the two Oriental rites now have Church leadership. economic crisis in many areas, espe- dioceses beyond their home state of This prevents the evolution of an cially in southern India, and particularly Kerala. emphatic, even pragmatic, pastoral and in the state of Kerala and surrounding Catholics live in the midst of an social response. It also leads to inad- areas. overwhelming Hindu majority [and a equate training and formation of clergy With both dowry and caste, the majority of Muslims in some districts and men and women religious in this role of the Church has been controver- such as Kerala, Bengal, Assam and important area of work in the life of the sial. Many Catholic human rights and Kashmir]. lay faithful. gender activists have criticized the Inevitably, there are an increasing The lay faithful, and their families, Church over its soft response to these number of cases of Christians -- espe- are largely left to their own devices in disturbing facets of society. cially women -- marrying outside their handling their crises and problems, Economic problems, especially denomination or rite, or marrying Hin- and in relating to society at large. in rural and tribal forest areas inhabited dus and Muslims. I hope, and I pray, that a visible by various indigenous peoples with The Church response to this in change will take place after the Synods their own ancient cultures, has led to Kerala is most dissatisfying, and leans on the Family in Rome in 2014 and large scale displacement, migration to heavily on a punitive strategy. 2015. urban areas for employment, and to The Church in India may have John Dayal is the general secre- human trafficking. sent responses to the questionnaire tary of the All India Christian Council Another growing problem is that from Rome for the Family Synod in and a member of the Indian of senior citizens who have no place to October, but there has been no genu- government's National Integration live because of poverty and displace- ine survey carried out in the vast major- Council. ment, or the rise of nuclear families. ity of Catholic dioceses. This is particularly acute among Among the few that have been Source: ucanews.com former landless laborers and the urban carried out, there is no guarantee that poor, but it is also a problem among the the data has been collected using ad- lower middle class in cities and small equate, scientific methodology. So, Subscriptions for towns. there is no verifiable data on divorce, The Church does not have the The Secular Citizen bigamy, desertions, domestic violence, resources or presence in civil society Renewal as well as New, can be sent single parenthood, teen-age pregnan- to make any worthwhile impact on any through Bank Fund Transfer to any one cies, abortions and temporary or per- of these issues. of the following banks: manent contraception. Another issue peculiar to India No study has been conducted on Bank: HDFC Bank official or unofficial government pres- Branch : CST - Mumbai VT Wedding Invitation, Christening, sure on Indians to have small families, Account Name: The Secular Citizen First Holy Communion, Mortuary and its impact on the Catholic lay faith- Account No. 03552000006744 ful. Cards & Religious Goods ISFC code: HDFC0000355 Another critical issue having an Contact: or impact on pastoral life and care of the David & Company Bank: Citizen Credit Co-op Bank Ltd., family in India is the grossly insufficient Branch : Colaba, Mumbai Sharaf Manzil, 1st Floor, 650, effort at educating them in the social Account Name: The Secular Citizen J.S.S. Road, 2nd Dhobitalao Lane, teachings of the Church. 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