KOLKATA: In the wake of the Hathras incident,
Catholic Association
of
Bengal
(CAB) organized an open-air mass, congregating many faiths, against the perpetual injustice meted out to women. The congregation also prayed for the release of Stanislaus Lourduswamy, the 83-year-old Jesuit priest, who has been arrested on sedition charges.
Jesuit priest Father Jyotiraj SJ read out the appeal from Archbishop Felix Machado, secretary general, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India: “CBCI expresses its deep sorrow and anguish on the arrest of Fr Stan Swamy from his residence … accusing him of being related to the Bhima-Koregaon incident. Fr Stan Swamy has spent a major portion of his life serving tribals and downtrodden … The CBCI makes a strong appeal for immediate release Fr Stan Swamy…”
After the event, CAB president Angelina Mantosh Jasnani told TOI, “It is also the International Day of the Girl Child. This would be the appropriate time to pray for all women who face discrimination and injustice.” Instead of having the mass within the confines of the church, CAB organized the prayer meet at the statue of
Mother Teresa at Allen Park on Park Street.
MP Nadimul Haque, who is also the chairman of West Bengal Minorities Commission, appealed for justice to the family of the Hathras victim and all those who subjected to similar outrage. The opening prayer was conducted by Fr Dominic Gomes, vicar general, Archdiocese of Calcutta, and the closing prayer was read by Devraj Fernandez along with Fr Rodney Burneo and Fr Lucas d’Cruze.
“We at the CAB, of which Mother Teresa was a patron saint, decided to organize a day of solemnity for every human who has been victimized,” Francis Gomes, life member of CAB, said. Collin Fitzgerald, CAB’s treasurer, delivered the vote of thanks.
Among those at the prayer meet were Sikh religious leader Sardar Bachchan Singh Saral, Jain guru Pramananda Maharaj, Buddhist monks Moni Maharaj and Chhoto Bante Maharaj. Reading the CBCI’s statement, Fr Jyotiraj added, “It is difficult to comprehend the plight of an octogenarian, like Fr Stan Swamy, with several ailments who is having to undergo such difficulties.”