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Dalit Catholics express disappointment over Vatican’s appointment of non-Dalit as Bishop of Salem

Dalit Catholics in Salem have expressed dismay over the Vatican appointing a bishop of non-Dalit origin in a Dalit-majority diocese in Salem, Tamil Nadu.

On May 31, Pope Francis appointed Father Arulselvam Rayappan of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore as the next bishop of Salem.

Father Rayappan, 60, is currently the professor and director of the Centre for Canon Law Studies at St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute in Bengaluru.

Disappointed with the appointment, Father Z. Devasagaya Raj, former secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) office of Dalits and backward classes said, “People are disappointed by the appointment of a non-Dalit bishop for Salem Diocese because they have been demanding the appointment of a Dalit.”

Mathew, the convener of Tamil Nadu’s All Dalit Christian Movements Coalition, accused the Vatican of nepotism in the current appointment.

While accusing the Vatican of casteism and nepotism in the recent appointment, Mathew said, “It looks like some kind of nepotism is going on because the newly appointed bishop of Salem is the cousin of Bishop Peter Abir Antonysamy of Sultanpet, who is also the apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. They both belong to the same caste, parish, and village. It reminds us of the medieval Church. Are we going forward or backward?”

Another Dalit Christian activist, M. Mary John, head of the Dalit Christian Liberation Movement, stated that the movement has been demanding Dalit bishops in the state for the last three decades and that the newest appointment is a significant setback.

John expressed his disappointment with the latest appointment, saying, “We have full proof of writing letters to the nuncio and other bishops urging them to appoint a Dalit bishop whenever a post is vacant, but unfortunately it was not even considered. It is very surprising and dejecting that after hearing and promising to grant our request, the higher authorities did not even take note of it.”

(with inputs from ucanews.com )

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