Church will take up human rights issues
PANAJI, 20 June, 2011, 11:00 Hrs (TNN)
The human person is created in the image and likeness of God and therefore the human person is a manifestation of the divine. Since the Church exists as a servant of God, it will continue to take up issues that amount to human rights violations.
This, according to Fr Maverick Fernandes, is the "fundamental crux" of why the Church takes up issues of human rights violations in Goa and elsewhere. Fernandes, who is the executive secretary of the council for social justice and peace, was speaking on "Human Rights and the Church" at a workshop on Human Rights - Goa Audit at the International Centre, Dona Paula, on Saturday.
Fernandes was one of the speakers at the workshop where justice (retd) J S Verma, former Supreme Court chief justice and former chairperson of the national human rights commission was the chief guest. Freedom fighter Mohan Ranade, was the guest of honour.
Fernandes explained how the Church is concerned with various sorts of violations against human rights. For example, the right to life "from the moment of conception" is a major concern of the Church, Fernandes said, adding that if the government says that one has the authority to terminate life in the womb, the Church will question the government. Likewise, the Church is very concerned with the right to education, right to work, to raise a family, etc. "Human rights are inviolable and the Church will continue to take up these issues," Fernandes said.
Fernandes recalled how the Church took a frontal role on various issues along with other like-minded organisations. He mentioned the Mhadei water diversion issue, the Meta Strips agitation, disability rights, regional plan, special economic zones, etc. The Church even has a "committed band of volunteers of all religions working in the prisons to ensure that prisoners' rights are upheld," Fernandes said.
Fernandes also said that the interventions of the Church are often misunderstood and questioned. Maintaining that the stand of the Church was strictly in consonance with the Constitution of India, Fernandes asked why the Church should be questioned if it was not violating the country's Constitution. So despite the questions being asked about its interventions, the Church will continue to work for human rights with all the "moral force that is required," Fernandes said.
He also refuted the charge that the Church was concerned about its "dwindling numbers" and reiterated that the Church was concerned only about the human person.
Fernandes said the Church is especially concerned about the ecological destruction and this year, will lay special focus on the protection of the environment. The Church will conduct a very serious programme this year to contribute to the environment in a very systematic manner.
The Church believes in "inter-generational justice" where we are protecting the planet for the generation ahead. There is an understanding that we are living on the planet which we have borrowed from the generation ahead. "If we have borrowed it on loan, we must return it with interest," Fernandes said.
Reiterating the Church's commitment to working for human rights, Fernandes quoted the late Pope, Blessed John Paul II, who wrote that "the human person is, and must remain, the subject, foundation and goal of all development. The moment the human person is not the subject, foundation and goal of all development, that means someone is exploiting that human person. His rights are being violated and the Church will take up these issues," Fernandes said.