(Following is the key-note address delivered by Fr Cedric Prakash Sj on May 13th 2015 to the 20th General Assembly of Caritas Internationalis held in Rome, Italy)
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
It is good to be here today! At the outset, I would like to place on record my deep and sincere gratitude to the President of Caritas Internationalis Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, the Secretary General Mr. Michel Roy and all others concerned for according me this great honour to be a key-note speaker at the 20th General Assembly of Caritas Internationalis being held here in Rome. It is an added honour for me today to be together on the dais with one of the foremost thinkers and economists of the world today, the renowned Prof. Jeffrey Sachs.
The topic in discussion at this plenary session is the ‘Growing inequalities: a challenge to the one human family’ and I have been requested to give some inputs on how to reduce inequalities and achieve a real sustainable development.
INTRODUCTION:
At the outset, I would like to invite each one of you to Ahmedabad – the city I come from. Ahmedabad is the commercial capital of Gujarat, in North-west India. In the heart of this city of over six million people and founded by a very benevolent king called Ahmed Shah in 1411, stands the Sidi Saiyed mosque named after its builder. The most exquisite craftsmanship in stone carving can be seen in this mosque which was built in 1573. The distinguishing features of this mosque are the ten intricately carved stone windows! One of the windows depicts the “TREE OF LIFE” with delicate intertwining of the branches of a tree. For years, this motif was the symbol of Ahmedabad and in fact, of Gujarat.
In a way, it symbolized all that Gujarat and India meant and stood for: diverse cultures, faiths, languages, traditions, peoples….yes, everything which indeed made up a great civilization. This event prompted the great Russian Czar Nicholas II write “Sidi Syed’s Jali is a marvelous piece of aesthetic carving, the image of tree is like an artistic portrayal of whole India’s splendor. Here, in Gujarat’s capital, this pure holy art is standing tall.” Yes, it is a master-piece: very different but very united. A unity in diversity! A unique tapestry, inter-woven with multi-colour hues as the light of the sun and the moon pierces the gaps of the window. It is a magnificent experience indeed! The tree of life reminds us of the words of Jesus, “I am the vine and you are the branches.” (Jn.15:1-8) – the fact that we all belong to one human family! Sadly, the local Government no longer regards it as symbolic of the city today!
The tree of life is indeed an apt metaphor for this Assembly which has for its overall theme “one human family: caring for creation”. The efforts of this eminent gathering is to put in place a way of proceeding of how we can work together better as one world in protecting both people and planet from the impact of climate change, rising inequality and a globalization of indifference. My address therefore is to look at the problems and possible responses in a multi-faceted way.
‘EVANGELII GAUDIUM’: A BLUE-PRINT
Pope Francis in his path-breaking Apostolic Exhortation ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ provides every disciple of Jesus with a blue-print – a road-map on the reality and the challenges of our world today. In contextualising this reality, he says, “In our time, humanity is experiencing a turning-point in its history, as we can see from the advances being made in so many fields. We can only praise the steps being taken to improve people’s welfare in areas such as health care, education and communication. At the same time we have to remember that the majority of our contemporaries are barely living from day to day, with dire consequences. A number of diseases are spreading.
The hearts of many people are gripped by fear and desperation, even in the so-called rich countries. The joy of living frequently fades, lack of respect for others and violence are on the rise, and inequality is increasingly evident. It is a struggle to live and, often, to live with precious little dignity. This epochal change has been set in motion by the enormous qualitative, quantitative, rapid and cumulative advances occurring in the sciences and in technology, and by their instant application in different areas of nature and of life. We are in an age of knowledge and information, which has led to new and often anonymous kinds of power.”
The Pope then exhorts us to say “no to an economy of exclusion”, “no to the new idolatry of money”, “no to a financial system which rules rather than serves”, “no to the inequality which spawns violence.” He furthers this by providing us with a whole canvas of challenges that one necessarily faces in our world today – unequivocally stating that “we also evangelise when we attempt to confront the various challenges which can arise.”
Personally, I really don’t think one can better the blue-print and the challenges given to us by Pope Francis in ‘Evangelii Gaudium.’ What I intend doing in the course of this presentation is to reemphasise some of the points made by Pope Francis together with my personal reflections within the broader framework of this General Assembly.
GROWING INEQUALITIES: THE HOW?
It’s important for us to first look at the way four aspects spawn these inequalities.
i) Greed of a Few
Several years ago, Mahatma Gandhi very prophetically said “the earth has enough to satisfy every man’s need but not every man’s greed.” These words are so true today. The growing economic inequalities are a major cause of concern. One needs to look around and to see the scandalous way in which the gap between the rich and the poor increases day by day. Franco-American activist, Susan George in her celebrated work in 1976 entitled “How the other half dies” makes out a case of how a few across the world control the lives and destinies of the vast majority through unjust trade and other economic measures. Statistics can be reeled out ad nauseam to evidence this reality; but the only point which I would like to make today is that “greed” erodes the foundation of all that is good.
ii) Globalisation of Indifference
Pope Francis has challenged the world with a new idiom ‘the globalisation of indifference’. We see this happen at perhaps every level of society. We do not want to get involved, we are afraid to get involved. Why should I bother, as long as I am not affected? We sit glued to our TV screens and the plight of millions becomes a passing show for us! We just don’t care! It happens all the time in big ways and small ways; like the Pharisee – we conveniently leave the dying man on the street and continue with our own business.
iii) Gender Insensitivity
One can never talk about inequality if we do not have the courage to address the glaring inequality between the men and women of our times. In spite of rapid changes on every front and technological advancement which has even taken us to the moon, the status of women in many societies all over the world still leaves much to be desired. It is no secret that the ordinary housewife does much more work than her husband; yet we see blatant patriarchal mind-sets and total gender insensitivity across the board. Recently, on April 29th Pope Francis categorically stated “that men and women who perform the same job should be paid equally” calling “gender-based income disparities are a pure scandal.”
iv) Genocidal Violence
Our earth will never reach any measure of sustainability if we do not cry halt to the genocidal violence that seems to hold sway in several parts of the world today. This is all about power as groups and outfits who subscribe to a particular ideology tolerate nothing which is different from theirs or who are able to challenge them. In pain and anguish, we see how millions of victim-survivors have to live in fear trying to flee towards greater security; if not they and their kith and kin will be left to the mercies of despots even butchered. Such violence certainly accelerates divisiveness in society and prevents any kind of inclusive sustainable growth.
OUR RESPONSE
How then should we respond then to these major challenges which plague our world today? In ‘Evangelii Gaudium’, Pope Francis emphasizes this mandate when he states that “The Gospel tells us constantly to run the risk of a face-to-face encounter with others, with their physical presence which challenges us, with their pain and their pleas, with their joy which infects us in our close and continuous interaction. True faith in the incarnate Son of God is inseparable from self-giving, from membership in the community, from service, from reconciliation with others. The Son of God, by becoming flesh, summoned us to the revolution of tenderness.”
For more than forty-five years now, ever since it promulgated ‘Ad Gentes Divinitus’ (the decree on the Church’s missionary activity), the Church has broadened the dimensions of evangelization, laying greater emphasis on Christian witness. “The Church must be present to these groups through those of its members who live among them or have been sent to them. All Christians by the example of their lives and the witness of the word, wherever they live, have an obligation to manifest the new man which they put on in baptism, and to reveal the power of the Holy Spirit by whom they were strengthened at confirmation, so that others, seeing their good works, might glorify the Father (cf. Mt. 5: 16) and more perfectly perceive the true meaning of human life and the universal solidarity of mankind.” A meaningful response needs to be framed within this theological background.
In ‘Evangelii Nuntiandi’, Pope Paul VI acknowledges that “evangelization would not be complete if it did not take account of the unceasing interplay of the Gospel and of man’s concrete life, both personal and social. This is why evangelization involves an explicit message, adapted to the different situations constantly being realized, about the rights and duties of every human being, about family life without which personal growth and development is hardly possible, about life in society, about international life, peace, justice and development – a message especially energetic today about liberation.”
Dear Sisters and Brothers, we therefore, need a multi-pronged approach to reduce inequalities and to achieve sustainable development, among them:
i)- to be witnesses of our faith
In ‘Evangelii Gaudium’, Pope Francis reminds us that “Consequently, no one can demand that religion should be relegated to the inner sanctum of personal life, without influence on societal and national life, without concern for the soundness of civil institutions, without a right to offer an opinion on events affecting society. Who would claim to lock up in a church and silence the message of Saint Francis of Assisi or Blessed Teresa of Calcutta? They themselves would have found this unacceptable. An authentic faith – which is never comfortable or completely personal – always involves a deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave this earth somehow better that we found it.”
The first step towards change is MYSELF…I need to BE the change I want to see; I need to truly become a witness of Jesus in today’s world!
ii) to cut down on consumption
Consumerism and over-consumerism is the bane of the day. A very significant percentage of the world’s population possesses and consumes much more than required. We are driven by a market which consistently tells us that we ‘become’ only if we ‘have’; it is not for nothing that Jesus consistently referred to the poor in Spirit; it is not for nothing that the parable of ‘The Rich Man and Lazarus’ is centre-stage in Christianity; it is not for nothing that at the Last Judgement, the Lord will not ask us how many times you went to Church but how did you respond to the least of your brothers and sisters? non-consumption is not about hoarding but about sharing. It is not about accumulation but the courage to be aware that this night the barn will be destroyed!
iii)- to reach out to others
Reaching out to others today implies a new set of rules and in fact calls for a greater depth. It is not merely about doling out but about a rights-based approach, about advocacy and accompanying people in their quest for a more humane and dignified life. Are we truly reaching out to others?
iv) to speak truth to power
In a message on the occasion of The World Day of Peace 2007, our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI strongly states, “As far as the free expression of personal faith is concerned, another disturbing symptom of lack of peace in the world is represented by the difficulties that both Christians and the followers of other religions frequently encounter in publicly and freely professing their religious convictions. Speaking of Christians in particular, I must point out with pain that not only are they at times prevented from doing so; in some States they are actually persecute, and even recently tragic cases of ferocious violence have been recorded. There are regimes that impose a single religion upon everyone, while secular regimes often lead not so much to violent persecution as to systematic cultural denigration of religious beliefs. In both instances, a fundamental human right is not being respected, with serious repercussions for peaceful coexistence. This can only promote a mentality and culture that is not conducive to peace.”
We should never be afraid of the powerful. In humility and with courage, we should speak truth to power. We should not be afraid to take on Governments who side with the rich and corporate interests – who are driven by a market which does not have a heart for the poor.
v)- to propagate and to ensure Human Rights for ALL :
On December 10th 1948, the world was given a ‘magna carta’ in the form of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which is also in sum and substance Gospel values. There has been much progress in this sphere these many years but much more needs to be done. The Catholic Church in the recent years has given martyrs who have laid down their lives in the service of faith and the promotion of justice. Archbishop Oscar Romero is one such example. We need however to mainstream human rights in our school curriculum, in the formation of priests and religious and even in the homilies that are preached. Internalizing and practicing these core principles will go a long way in the bonding of one human family.
vi)- to develop a spirituality that is incarnational
It goes without saying that any Christian response must be rooted in prayer – in constant communion with God; however, our prayers should not be pharisaical or mere lip service (“not all who say Lord, Lord….shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”) We need to develop a spirituality which is truly incarnational. This presupposes an attitude which is open to the workings of the Spirit, an intellect which is able to grasp and interpret the “Signs of the times” and an unflagging commitment to act in an appropriate and effective manner. The question we need to ask ourselves is whether as Christians are we motivated enough “to pitch one’s tent amidst the people of God?”
Fr Cedric Prakash with Fr Gustavo Gutierrez-the Father of Liberation Theology
It calls for great discernment which could even demand a radical transformation of structures from the concrete monoliths that symbolize Churches to tarpaulin tents which definitely are symbolic of vulnerability yet theologically deep enough to characterize the reality of the “pilgrim people” journeying towards the establishing of “God’s Kingdom” on this earth. Pope Francis puts it bluntly and directly “I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security. I do not want a Church concerned with being at the centre and then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures.”
vii)-to foster an intellectual depth that is critical
The Church has contributed significantly to the intellectual temper of the world. Catholic Social Teaching has influenced policies and decisions in several nations. In all honesty, we need however to admit that we still have to do much more in our world today to radically influence the thoughts and actions of the men and women of today. We have the structures, we have the libraries with volumes of books stacked in them; several of us have become digital natives adept at the new age technology and much more. In spite of these resources, the power we wield through our study and knowledge, we have not been able to make crucial interventions today. Pope Francis has been exhorting us to do much more and he surely is giving us a lead in this.
viii)- to collaborate with men and women of goodwill
We often protest when “our” interests are touched….when we are affected, when “our class, our caste, our religion” is hurt. We need to transcend all this, to be open enough, to build a civil society movement that can take a stand on any issue which impinges on the rights and freedoms of any single individual. We need to be inclusive and collaborate with all men and women of goodwill. Last month, more than 700 migrants were drowned while attempting to flee Libya. Pope Francis had no hesitation in several of his speeches to highlight the tragedy of these poor migrants who are desperate for a better life and who want to live in dignity with a livelihood which is secure. As Christians, very often, our voices are muted. That globalization of indifference seems to have entered our lives and our space. We are afraid to make room for the other. We fail to listen to the voice of the angel saying “peace on earth to all men and women of goodwill”; above all, because of our exclusivity, we often hesitate to collaborate with them in the quest for a more just, equitable and inclusive society.
ix)- to take a stand that is prophetic
For too long, as Christians, we have adopted the easy way out: either not getting involved or saying “we need to turn the other cheek”. The issue at stake is not our own personal survival but that of larger society very specially those on the margins: the poor and the vulnerable. We need to stand up, be counted and speak out fearlessly for truth and for justice, always championing the cause of those who have been weighed down by oppressive structures.
Fr Cedric seen with Cardinal Peter Turkson the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice & Peace
As Christians, we should therefore become vulnerable enough to be able to speak out against the inequalities and other injustices of society, to have that prophetic mission which will denounce the evil in society in order to announce all that is good; we have to become places of HOPE where those who are victimized and brutalized can find a safe and secure haven. It might involve allowing our fortified structures to even crumble. We really do not have too many counter arguments to this if we have totally understood the person and message of Jesus Christ and all that he has stood for. The social teaching of the Church has also constantly stressed this dimension.
In ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ Pope Francis does not mince words about the prophetic role we need to play today, “Peace in society cannot be understood as pacification or the mere absence of violence resulting from the domination of one part of society over others. Nor does true peace act as a pretext for justifying a social structure which silences or appeases the poor, so that the more affluent can placidly support their lifestyle which others have to make do as they can! Demands involving the distribution of wealth, concern for the poor and human rights cannot be suppressed under the guise of creating a consensus on paper or a transient peace for a contented minority. The dignity of the human person and the common good rank higher than the comfort of those who refuse to renounce their privileges! When these values are threatened, a prophetic voice must be raised.”
CONCLUSION
Dear Sisters and Brothers, none of should forget that we have to be the light, the salt, the leaven of this earth in order to address the growing inequalities and thus help in the deeper bonding of the one human family.
On May 23rd – just about ten days from now, one of the heroes of our times, Archbishop Oscar Romero (I referred to him earlier)) will be beatified in El Salvador. It is indeed a fitting tribute to a person who lived in very concrete ways all that we would like our world to embrace. Let him be our inspiration, let him be our guide as we strive towards making our world more inclusive, less divisive and more all-embracing. Our efforts, we know, will never be in vain as Romero himself reminds us with these immortal words:
“We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.
Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us….
We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something, and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between ‘master’ builder and the worker.
We are the workers, not the master builder; the ministers, not the messiah.
We are prophets of a future that is not our own.”
We can also take inspiration from Rabindranath Tagore, the Indian poet and writer also a Nobel Laureate prays in his celebrated work the ‘Gitanjali’ (an offering of songs):
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high,
Where knowledge is free,
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls,
Where words come out from the depth of truth,
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection,
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sands of dead habit,
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever widening thought and action,
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake!
Yes, together we need to wake up our world! Let this 20th General Assembly of Caritas Internationalis, be a new beginning, a small but significant step – which will truly impact on the destinies of millions, who look towards us with great expectations for a more equitable, just, inclusive and humane tomorrow!
Thank you very much!
(* Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ is the Director of PRASHANT, the Ahmedabad-based Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace.)
