Recently, a few Catholic dioceses in Kerala have been making statements and movements favouring right wing political parties. Some of these actions have been troubling me. It hurts. Once upon a time, I used to feel proud of being part of the church. Now, I don't. The church is just another political group.
The values that defined the church once are no more there. Values are for sermons. Outside sermons, the church is just another group with political aspirations. If the church's leadership had maintained its identity as a group of believers, and then bargained for political benefit and representation, I wouldn't have been offended. But now, Christian values and Christian identity are thrown out the window to gain political identity and stability. It is a matter of deciding what your priorities are. The Christ might have said, 'values.' But the current Christian leadership is saying, 'our priority is politics.' This is not very good.
I often get this question: "When are you getting your daughter baptised?" The answer is simple and clear: "I won't. I wanted to. But now, I won't, since the church is getting saffron, day after day." I don't want my daughter to be part of a group that does not practice what it professes.
If at all, I need a religious identity, it's better that I establish a new religion. Since religions have no registration, that wouldn't be difficult.
