CHENNAI, India (UCAN) -- Bishops in Tamil Nadu state, southern India, have urged Catholics to eliminate caste-based inequalities so as to help people of low-caste origin and former untouchables fully participate in Church life.

"It is the duty of all Christians to remove caste differences and untouchability and create a Church which is equal," the Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council proclaimed in a statement.

The Catholic bishops' statement was read out in parishes of all 19 dioceses in the state on Aug. 17. It acknowledges that Indian society has been built on a caste system with four main tiers. People outside these castes, once considered "outcastes" or "untouchables," are now collectively called dalit, a Sanskrit term for "trampled upon."

The statement laments that people, including Catholics, continue to practice untouchability in various forms and to varying degrees.

"Symbols of untouchability" within the Church in Tamil Nadu that the bishops want removed include caste-based seating in churches, not allowing dalit children to serve Mass and not allowing parish festival processions to enter dalit localities. The prelates also want to end separate burial grounds and separate vehicles to carry the dead. New burial grounds should be open to all, they asserted.

They also want dalit Catholics to take part in parish administration and Church institutions. Toward this, the statement says dalit should be encouraged to participate and lead in parish councils and other Church organizations. It also asks Religious congregations and dioceses to encourage vocations from dalit groups.

The bishops explained that Indians, even when they change religion, retain their caste identity and symbols or typical dress, and Christians are no exception. But they also pointed out that the Indian Constitution prohibits caste discrimination and untouchability.

The statement urges bishops, priests, Religious and laity to work together to end caste discrimination. The bishops described such discrimination by priests and Religious as "a big sin," since it works as "a counter-witness to Christianity."

Council chairperson Archbishop Peter Fernando of Madurai told UCA News on Aug. 20 that the statement resulted from the council discussing caste issues at its June 24-27 annual meeting.

The bishops "have given high priority to removing" discrimination based on caste, he said, adding that this concern intensified after Catholics in a parish in Pondicherry-Cuddalore archdiocese clashed over caste differences.

Two lower-caste Catholics died on March 9 when police opened fire to check spreading violence between that group and dalit parishioners.

The bishops' statement underlined that the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India has opposed caste discrimination in the Church. It recalled the late Pope John Paul II asking the Tamil Nadu bishops on their ad limina visit in 2003 to remove caste discrimination in the Church, calling it "a threat to true spirituality."

In 2004, bishops, priests, Religious, laity and human rights organizations in Tamil Nadu jointly re-launched a 10-point action plan for the development of dalit and tribal Christians. The plan's first agenda item, the statement recalled, was to remove caste discrimination.

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