A quotation of Indira Gandhi (Indian politician and Prime Minister ),
compiled by Jerome D'Costa
Artwork by Jerome D'Costa
Calgary Dental Blog
1 year ago
Sunday, December 27, 2020
Friday, December 25, 2020
Merry Christmas To You All!
A Christmas decoration piece in a Home Sense store in Scarborough, Toronto
Photo by Jerome D'Costa
Sunday, December 20, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (December 20 - 26, 2020)
A quotation of Confucius or "Kong Fuzi" (551-479 B.C.: ancient Chinese
philosopher and politician), compiled by Jerome D'Costa
Artwork by Jerome D'Costa
Sunday, December 13, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (December 13 - 19, 2020)
A quotation of Dr. A. P. J. Abul Kalam (1931-2015: Indian aerospace scientist,
politician and the 11th President of India), compiled by Jerome D'Costa
Artwork by Jerome D'Costa
Sunday, December 6, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (December 6 - 12, 2020)
Sunday, November 29, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (November 29 - December 5, 2020)
Sunday, November 22, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (November 22 - 28, 2020)
Sunday, November 15, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (November 15 - 21, 2020)
A quotation of Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 B.C. - 43 B.C.: Roman statesman,
scholar, and lawyer) on 'books,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa
Design by Jerome D'Costa
Sunday, November 8, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (November 8 - 14, 2020)
A quotation of William Shakespeare (1564-1616: English playwright, poet, and actor)
on 'loving, trusting, and doing no wrong,' and compiled by Jerome D'Costa
Design and handwriting by Jerome D'Costa
Monday, November 2, 2020
Joe Biden To Win 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
 |
| Vice President Joe Biden |
Image by Joachim Romeo D'Costa
Our observation and gut feeling makes us fore-believe that Democratic Vice President Joe Biden will win the 2020 American election in spite of the chaotic electioneering in the USA.
Reasons for his win can be summarized as such:
President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, has for the last four years failed to demonstrate a real leadership fit for the U.S. presidency, rather he has proved time and again that instead of being a leader he has been a micro-manager. Micro-managers are persons who suffer from a type of inferiority complex and try to compensate for this lacking with micro-supervision of everything and everybody.
President Donal Trump has shown such a bullying and street ruffian talk, manner, and behaviour that many are tired of and repelled by him. Some are sick of his dividing attitude rather than a uniting one.
There are Republicans, who supported him before, became victims of Trump's demeaning nicknames and tongue-lashings for even little disagreements and critiques. These disgruntled Republicans, although small in number, will vote for Biden.
Among the Blacks, who were undecided before, tilted toward Joe Biden after the Black Lives Matter movement got thrashed by President Trump.
Latinos similarly leaned toward Biden as they were blamed for being intruders, murderers, and rapists by the Trump government. Moreover, many Latino children were separated from their accompanying parents entering the U.S. illegally. Years passed but parents of these children are still not being able to be relocated.
The misogynistic language, attitude, and behaviour of Donald Trump alienated many American women of different ethnic backgrounds. In addition, Trump also has a bad reputation for sexually abusing women. He has a bad reputation for not placing women in important positions in his government.
Donald Trump's phony conservativeness also alienated many young people, especially students, who are usually progressive in their outlook. Because of his lip service of this conservativeness, a good number of Evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics are thinking not to support Trump anymore.
President Trump does not have any solid and concerted plan for dealing with the onslaught of the COVID - 19 pandemic. As a result, elderly people have been affected adversely. A good number of elderly persons, who had supported him in the 2016 election, are shifting their allegiance to the Democrats.
Some people are extremely irritated by the disrespect that is evidenced in Trump's talks and behaviour. He thinks he is the centre of the universe and gives demeaning and insulting nicknames to his opponents and persons not agreeing with him fully. From his childhood, he learned this disrespect from his parents and it will never go away. His dysfunctional family life is a bad example for many, too.
The presidential election of 2016 and 2020 are completely different. A lot of water has passed in the last four years. Things have changed a lot. The Biden win will be one of these changes.
Sunday, November 1, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (November 1 - 7, 2020)
 |
| A quotation of J. K. Rowling on 'one is known by how one treats his inferiors,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa |
Artwork by Jerome D'Costa
Sunday, October 25, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (25 - 31 October, 2020)
A quotation of Rose Lane on 'genuine happiness,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa
Photo (Halloween pumpkins in Toronto) © Jerome D'Costa
Sunday, October 18, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (October 18 - 24, 2020)
 |
| A quotation of Rudyard Kipling on 'giving someone more than one can do,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa |
Photo (A cross in front of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Scarborough,
Toronto) © Jerome D'Costa
Monday, October 12, 2020
Jerome D'Costa Visits Kanya Kumari of Tamilnadu State of India
Jerome D'Costa, mimicking the papal blessing, at the confluence of
The Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal in December 1974.
Photo by Flavian Quiah, Caritas Bangladesh Regional Director of Chittagong
Sunday, October 11, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (October 11 - 17, 2020)
A quotation of Michelle Obama on 'the power of using one's voice,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa
Design by Jerome D'Costa
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Bishop Bejoy D'Cruze Becomes The New Archbishop of Dhaka
Most Rev. Bejoy N. D’Cruze Appointed
the Archbishop of Dhaka, Bangladesh
‘The bishop without land, without a house and without a car.’
He brings
in his Sylhet Diocese experience.
By Father Francis
Sunil Rosario, Kolkata
The son the
soil, Most Rev. Bejoy N. D’Cruze from the Congregation of Oblates of Mary
Immaculate (OMI) is named the new Archbishop of Dhaka. This announcement was
made from the Vatican City at 12.00 Noon (Vatican Time) and Dhaka at 4.00 P.M.
(Bangladesh time) on Sept. 30. Most Rev. Bejoy N. D’Cruze, OMI, succeeds, His Eminence,
Archbishop Patrick Cardinal D’Rozario in the episcopate, its highest rank in
position to serve the Archdiocese of Dhaka.
Most Rev. Bejoy Nicephorus D’Cruze, OMI was born on Feb. 9, 1956, at Puran Tuital, Nawabgonj
sub-district, which comes under the district of Dhaka. He was ordained a priest on Feb. 20, 1987. He had served as the Bishop of
Khulna from 2005 to 2011 and later on was appointed the bishop of Sylhet on July 8, 2011
and was installed as the first Bishop of Sylhet on Sept.
30, 2011.
The newly appointed Archbishop D’Cruze has been
serving as the Secretary General of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh
(CBCB) since Aug. 15, 2020. He has also served as the Chairman of the Episcopal Commission
for Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue and the Catholic Bishops'
Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB).
The Dhaka Archdiocese's
Marian Mother Church and thus seat of its archbishop is St. Mary’s Cathedral in
the national capital Dhaka. As senior Metropolitan in Bangladesh, it is the
principal Episcopal See of the country.
The Dhaka Archdiocesan area of 26,788 sq. kilometres includes
one of the country's eight divisions. It comprises the civil districts of
Brahmanbaria, Chandpur, Comilla, Dhaka, Gazipur, Manikganj, Munshiganj,
Narsingdi and Narayanganj. Dhaka is the national capital of Bangladesh.
In 1834, the Vicariate Apostolic of Bengal was created under the
jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. In 1850,
this Vicariate was divided into two, the Apostolic Vicariates of Eastern and
Western Bengal. In 1852, the Vicariate of Eastern Bengal, with its headquarters
in Dhaka, was entrusted to the newly-founded Congregation of the Holy Cross,
whose first missioners arrived in 1853. The congregation still serves in
Bangladesh.
When India gained independence in 1947, Dhaka was still a
suffragan of the Archdiocese of Calcutta in India. It was
elevated to Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dacca by Pope Pius XII on 15 July,
1950. It headed
a new ecclesiastical province with Chittagong, Dinajpur, and Jessore
(present-day Khulna) dioceses as suffragans. Holy Cross Father Lawrence Leo
Graner was appointed the first Archbishop of Dhaka.
In September 1960, Pope John XXlll gave Dhaka (and Bangladesh as
a whole) its first Bengali bishop in the person of Auxiliary Bishop Theotonius
A. Ganguly, CSC. In November 1967, Bishop Ganguly became the first Bengali Archbishop
of Dhaka. Following his death in September 1977, Bishop Michael Rozario of
Dinajpur was appointed the third Archbishop of Dhaka on December 17, 1977. He
was installed on April 9, 1978.
Chronologically, the Archbishops of Dhaka who served this metropolitan
Archdiocese, since 1950 were: Lawrence Leo Graner, C.S.C. (1950-1967),
Theotonius Amal Gangly, C.S.C. (1967-1977), Michael Rozario (1977-2005),
Paulinus Costa (2005-2011), Patrick Cardinal D’Rozario, C.S. C. (2011 – 2020)
Bangladesh 2020 population is estimated
at 164,689,383 people at mid-year according to UN data.
Bangladesh's population is equivalent to 2.11% of the total world population.
The population is estimated at
161 million (2018). About (90%) of Bangladeshis are Muslims, followed by Hindus
(8.9%), Buddhists (0.6%) and Christians (0.4%) and others. Bangladesh has
one of the highest population densities in the world.
His Mission as
Archbishop of Dhaka
Most Rev. Bejoy N. D’Cruze is bringing with him a rich experience
in his many pastoral endeavors. Especially, his dialogue with Muslim, Buddhists,
Hindus and the Tribal Indigenous communities. He has also rich experience in
Ecumenism through his mission as Chairman of Dialogue & Ecumenism,
CBCB.
For him, Dhaka, the
capital of Bangladesh, will be most challenging in his pastoral endeavors. He
is now being raised from the periphery dioceses of Bangladesh, i..e Khulna and
Sylhet to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dhaka. His many experiences with
various situations and difficult times will definitely help him to carry on
with his pastoral care programs in the Archdiocese.
His Role as Leader, his Dialogue Mission
in Bangladesh & His Vision for the Country
His experience in Sylhet Diocese among
the Muslims was: “I did not even have a
house of my own. I was renting a room in a house belonging to Muslims, where I
was not allowed to celebrate the Eucharist. Nor was I permitted to hold any
religious meetings.” ‘The bishop without land,
without a house and without a car’ is something unthinkable in our world of
globalization. Being a leader, he practices ‘Servant Leadership’ in his style
of functioning. He pursued his
mission among the poor tea plantation workers and tribal groups, in a Muslim
country. Through developing the spirit of dialogue and Ecumenism, he
will certainly be an effective leader for the growth of the Church in
Bangladesh.
His commitment to pastoral care and the program of ‘New
Evangelization’ will be to promote healthy fellowship and understanding among
all people. A
number of different projects for spiritual formation and human development,
together with the pastoral, educational and justice and peace commissions, he
will be able to address.
His tactful
ways in the administration and management style, with the inclusive system, will
definitely bear much fruit to bring the divergent forces to work for God’s
greater Glory. In the face of divisions, divisiveness, by the grace of God, he
will surely be able to sail the boat and take the people of God to holiness and
commitment to the cause entrusted to all baptized and for His glory, to build
His Church.
Sunday, October 4, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (October 4 - 10, 2020)
A quotation of Dale Carnegie on 'doing little jobs,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa
Photo (Autumn in Toronto, September 26, 2020) by Jerome D'Costa
Sunday, September 27, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (September 27 - October 3, 2020)
 |
| A quotation of Maya Angelou on 'importance of how you make people feel,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa Design by Jerome D'Costa |
Sunday, September 20, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (September 20, 2020)
 |
| A quotation of Wayne Dyer on 'seeing the good,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa Design by Jerome D'Costa |
Sunday, September 13, 2020
Missionary, Humanitarian, and Human Rights Worker Father Richard W. Timm, CSC, Dies
Father Richard W. Timm, CSC
Photo courtesy via Dhaka Tribune
Bangladesh minister Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury
(left)givingAbu Sayeed Chowdhury Award
for human rights to Father Richard W. Timm, CSC
Photo courtesy: the dailystar.net/
Father Richard William Timm, CSC (1923 - 2020), an American missionary priest, educator, humanitarian, and human rights worker in Bangladesh died of old-age complications in South Bend, Indiana, USA, on September 11. He was 97 years old. He worked in Bangladesh for 65 years.
First, he came to Bangladesh in 1952 as a professor at St. Gregory's College (the precursor of Notre Dame College) and did further study and research on nematodes. He discovered a few unknown types of nematodes, one of which was named 'Timmia parva' (small Timmian worm) after him.
Later he was the principal of Notre Dame College, served 1970-cyclone affected people in Monpura Island in the Bay of Bengal through a voluntary organization called 'HELP.' He also served the 1971 liberation war-affected people as the Planning Officer of the Christian Organization for Relief and Rehabilitation (CORR), which later was renamed Caritas Bangladesh.
He founded and became Secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace in Bangladesh. Through this Commission, he worked relentlessly for the human rights of ordinary people in Bangladesh.
Father Timm was also the author of several books. Among the books are -- a textbook on college biology (this book's name is not known to us now), The Plant-Parasitic Nematodes of Thailand and The Philippines (SEATO: 1965), The Church and Development in Bangladesh (Dhaka: Caritas Bangladesh, 1994), On Building A Just Society (Dhaka: Caritas Bangladesh, 1994), Forty Years in Bangladesh: Memoirs of Father Timm (Dhaka: Caritas Bangladesh, 1995), History of Holy Cross Priests in Bangladesh Since Independence: 1971 - 2000 (Dhaka: Provincial, Holy Cross Fathers, 2000), and 150 Years of Holy Cross in East Bengal Mission (Dhaka: Congregation of Holy Cross, 2003).
After being the only nematologist in Bangladesh, he, in the 1950s and 1960s, wrote over 70 scientific papers.
He was the recipient of a number of honours and awards. Among these are The Abu Sayeed Chowdhury Award for human rights in Bangladesh, the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (For the Church and the Pope) award from Pope Paul VI (1978) for his service to the 1971 war-affected people of Bangladesh, the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1987), a medal from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace of the Vatican in recognition of his contribution to education, charity, justice, and peace in Bangladesh (2009), and honorary citizenship of Bangladesh from the government.
To know more on Father Richard W. Timm, CSC, please read the following:
- Friend of Bangladesh Father Richard William Timm passes away at 97 (Sept. 12, 2020)
- Father Richard William Timm, Magsaysay awardee and missionary to Bangladesh, dies at 97 (Sept. 12, 2020)
- Richard William Timm, CSC [his profile]
- From the Archives: Freedom fight by two missionaries [Father Eugene E. Homrich, CSC, and Father Richard W. Timm, CSC]
- A Discussion with Father Richard William Timm, Congregation of Holy Cross (March 25, 2015)
- Obituary: Rev. Richard W. Timm, CSC (Sept. 11, 2020)
- Richard William Timm
- Reverend Richard W. Timm, CSC
The Quotation of the Week (September 13, 2020)
 |
| A quotation of Wayne Dyer on 'unhappiness,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa Design by Jerome D'Costa |
Sunday, September 6, 2020
Friday, September 4, 2020
Catholic Politician And Catholic Voters In the USA -- What To Do?
Joe Biden: Democratice presidential nominee
Photo courtesy: nypost.com/
Recently, Joe Biden has been nominated as the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party in the USA. He will contest President Donald Trump, renominated to run for the Republican Party. Joe Biden is a Roman Catholic.
Some Catholic voters, mostly belonging to the Republican Party, are questioning the catholicity of Joe Biden as he supports abortion, homosexuality, and some other issues that go against the teaching of the Catholic Church.
Please read below the pros and cons of the issues involved.
- Trump or Biden? What's a Catholic voter to do? (August 28, 2020)
- Who's a 'Fake' Catholic? (September 2, 2020)
- In Photos: Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden (August 21, 2020)
Sunday, August 30, 2020
Sunday, August 23, 2020
Sunday, August 16, 2020
Sunday, August 9, 2020
Sunday, August 2, 2020
Sunday, July 26, 2020
Jerome D'Costa -- His Life and Work
 |
Jerome D'Costa |
Originally, Jerome D'Costa is from Bangladesh and now he is settled in Canada. He has retired from his work. He was a journalist, editor, writer, NGO worker, blogger, and photographer.
He studied Journalism at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh (1972), and Communications Arts at the University of Portland, Oregon, USA (1977).
He was the editor of the 'Pratibeshi,' the national Catholic weekly in Bangladesh, and former Associate Director of World Vision of Bangladesh, Dhaka.
Please have a glimpse of his life and work in the following write-ups:
1. Profile of Jerome D'Costa:
- Jerome D'Costa In His Own Words (in English & Bengali)
- Some Memories and Thoughts: A Memoir of Jerome D'Costa (in Bengali)
2. Parents of Jerome D'Costa:
- Dr. Peter D'Costa and Mrs. Agnes D'Costa
- The Wedding of Dr. Peter D'Costa, B.H., and Mrs. Agnes D'Costa in 1938 (in English)
- Bangladesh Canada and Beyond (in English)
- Jerome D'Costa Documents (in English & Bengali)
6. Pinterest on Jerome D'Costa:
7. Twitter on Bangladesh Canada and Beyond (Jerome's blog):
8. Facebook on Bangladesh Canada and Beyond:
- Facebook on Bangladesh Canada and Beyond (Jerome's blog)
10. Photos by Jerome D'Costa:
11. Photo Essays by Jerome D'Costa:
12. Artworks by Jerome D'Costa:
13. Doodles by Jerome D'Costa:
15. Selected Columns by Jerome D'Costa:
The Quotation of the Week (July 26 - August 1, 2020)
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough."
--Albert Einstein
A quotation of Albert Einstein on 'explaining and
understanding,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa
Sunday, July 19, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (July 19 - 25, 2020)
"Don't just teach your children to read...Teach them to question what they read. Teach them to question everything." --George Carlin
Quotation of George Carlin on 'reading and
questioning everything,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa
questioning everything,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa
Monday, July 13, 2020
Archbishop Moses M. Costa, C.S.C., Dies of COVID-19 Complications
 |
| Bishop Moses M. Costa, CSC, of the Diocese of Dinajpur, Bangladesh, visiting the Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada |
 |
| Bishop Moses M. Costa, CSC, in front of the Niagara Falls |
 |
| Bishop Moses M. Costa, CSC (3rd from left) with Mrs. Mary D'Costa and her sons Ujjal Peter D'Costa, and Shouvik Mikhail D'Costa at the Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada |
 |
| Mrs. Mary D'Costa and her son Ujjal Peter D'Costa with Bishop Moses M. Costa, CSC at the Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada |
 |
| Bishop Moses M. Costa, CSC (5th from left) and Mrs. Mary D'Costa (1st from right) pose with some American visitors at the Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada |
All the photos above by Jerome D'Costa (July 2002)
Archbishop Moses M. Costa, C.S.C., of the Archdiocese
of Chattogram (Chittagong), Bangladesh, died on July 13 at the Square Hospital
in Dhaka of COVID-19-related multiple strokes caused by a brain hemorrhage. He
was 69 years old.
His body was taken to nearby Tejgaon Catholic Church in
Dhaka and then to his village home parish church of Tumilia in Gazipur District
before his burial at the Chattogram Catholic cathedral graveyard.
On June 13, Archbishop Moses was admitted to the Square
Hospital with severe respiratory distress and cough and the following day he
was diagnosed with COVID-19. He was recovering from it, but later on July 9 he
suffered brain strokes and was put on life support two days later. With the further
deterioration of his condition, he was transferred to the intensive care unit
where he ultimately died.
He was well-known in Bangladesh for his selfless work
among students, youths, seminarians, and disadvantaged people of different ethnicities
and faiths. He is being mourned by them all.
Archbishop Moses Costa, son of Hiron Pundit
(teacher), was born on November 17, 1950, at the village of Tumilia. He had
several brothers and sisters, among whom three -- Sister Mary Catherine, S.M.R.A.,
Sister Mary Tara, S.M.R.A., and Sister Mary Bibha, S.M.R.A. -- became nuns.
He became a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross
on February 5, 1981. Later, on July 20, 1996, he was named the bishop of the
Diocese of Dinajpur. On April 6, 2011, he was appointed the Bishop of
Chattogram Diocese. Pope Francis, in 2017, elevated the Diocese of Chattogram
into an archdiocese and appointed him the first archbishop of Chattogram on
February 2, 2017. In both the dioceses he served, he worked relentlessly for
the spiritual upliftment of his Catholic folk.
Sunday, July 12, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (July 12 - 18, 2020)
"Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider."
--Francis Bacon
Sunday, July 5, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (July 5 - 11, 2020)
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character -- that is the goal of true education." --Martin Luther King, Jr.
A quotation of Martin Luther
King, Jr. on 'the function of education,'
compiled by Jerome D'Costa
Sunday, June 28, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (June 28 - July 4, 2020)
 |
| A quotation of Steve Schmidt on 'President Trump's capability', compiled by Jerome D'Costa |
Design by Jerome D'Costa
Sunday, June 21, 2020
The Quotation of the Week (June 21 - 27, 2020)
 |
| Quotations on the 'importance of thinking,' compiled by Jerome D'Costa |
Above design by Jerome D'Costa
(Click on the above image to read it on an enlarged format)
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
The Catholic Church and Casteism
Casteism in the Catholic Church of India
 |
| A divided Catholic cemetery in Trichy of Tamil Nadu State, India (the portion on the left is for the upper-caste and the one on the right is for the lower-caste Catholics) Photo courtesy: bbc.co.uk/ |
What is casteism? Casteism is prejudice or antagonism directed against someone of a different caste in the Indian Hindu society. Hindus, even after their conversion to other religions -- including Christianity -- do maintain some sort of casteism among themselves.
Casteism comes from the word 'caste.' According to the Wikipedia, a caste is a form of social stratification characterized by endogamy (the custom of marrying within one's own caste or group), hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultural notions of purity and pollution.
According to the BBC, India's Hindu caste system is among the world's oldest forms of surviving social stratification. This caste system is more than 3,000 years old and it divides Hindus into rigid hierarchical groups based on their karma (work or occupation) and dharma (religion or duty).
Ancient India's religious texts, called the Vedas, speaks of the caste system that divides Hindus into four main categories -- starting from the top to bottom -- the Brahmins (priests, academics or teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors, kings or rulers, and administrators), Vaishyas (merchants, landowners or farmers, herders, craftspeople), and Shudras (manual labourers, peasants or farm workers, servants). Later, a fifth group or caste called the Dalits (outcasts or untouchables), emerged and they are persons, from the first four groups, who have been condemned and driven out of their individual caste because of their serious sins, transgressions, or crimes. They, then, sought refuge among other similarly condemned people, whose professions are considered 'dirty.' They work as street sweepers, latrine cleaners, leather workers, etc.
In later ages, some Indian Hindus converted to Christianity but did not abandon their earlier socio-religious caste system. In spite of Christ's teaching "love your neighbor as yourself," they hung on to the caste system, which is more or less present among both the Catholic priestly class and laypersons. In name, they are Catholic ("without any bias towards others"), but in practice, they are still caste Hindus.
During the 2003 'ad limina' (required periodic) visits of the Catholic archbishops of the ecclesiastical provinces of Madras-Mylapore, Madurai, and Pondicherry-Cuddalore of India, Pope John Paul II had reminded them that "It is the Church's obligation to work unceasingly to change hearts, helping all people to see every human being as a child of God, a brother or sister of Christ, and therefore a member of our own society."
Please read the following to see the situation of casteism in the Indian Catholic Church:
- India's Caste System (britannica.com)
- Christian caste (britannica.com)
- Caste System among Indian Christians
- Dalit Christian
- Caste, Catholicism and Indian Culture
- Catholics and Caste System
- Not even the Church escapes India's caste system (Sept. 10, 2013)
- Dalit Catholics continue to battle upper caste aggression (Aug. 2, 2015)
- Discrimination within the Church (June 6, 2016)
- Protesters decry caste prejudice within India's Catholic Church (March 24, 2016)
- 'Stop caste discrimination in the Church' (March 12, 2017)
- Catholic Church in India condemns caste system in new policy document empowering Dalits (Dec. 20, 2016)
- Indian Dalits find no refuse from caste in Christianity (Sept. 14, 2010)
- Is the Church finally acting against India's caste system? (May 5, 2017)
- The Indian caste system is based on racism (Feb. 6, 2016)
- Dalit Life in Catholic Church of South India: Dimension of Discrimination (July 2013)
- Kerala Christians and the Caste System (1976)
- Introduction to Caste in Christianity: Case of Kerala (Nov. 27, 2015)
- South Indian Christians, Purity/Impurity, and the Caste System (by D. Mosse) (1996)
- India: Catholic bishops issue document on Dalits, condemn caste system (Dec. 18, 2016)
- Papal intervention sought to end Dalit discrimination in India (Sept. 11, 2019)
- Caste off: The plight of Catholic Dalits in India (Feb. 8, 2013)
- India's Christian Untouchables: Christian Dalits fight for equality in their communities and nation (Nov. 2012)
- Dalit Christians in India file complaint with UN against the Vatican (Accuse Church of rampant caste-based discrimination) (June 29, 2015)
- Separate cemeteries for Dalits (June 4, 2011)
- Unchristian things in the Indian Church (a chapter of a book)
- Pope Francis' silence disappoints India's Dalit Catholics (Oct. 16, 2019)
- Dalit Catholics continue to battle upper caste aggression (Aug. 2, 2015)
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