By M L Satyan.
While working with many religious congregations during the past many years I have been reflecting on the values of a religious person (priest, brother, nun). A few months ago I conducted a training program for the junior sisters of a religious congregation in Bengaluru. One of my sessions was on religious life. I attached two values for each letter of the word Religious and posed certain questions. I wish to share my presentation through this write up and pose questions inviting the religious for a sincere introspection.
R – this letter stands for Responsibility and Response-ability. A religious person is expected to be responsible for his/her words and actions. Do the religious today own responsibility for what they say and do? The next value is response-ability – I mean the ability to respond. A religious person must have the ability to respond to the burning issues of the society – be it social, economic, educational, political or religious. Are the religious persons responding to corrupt and criminal-minded politicians, various atrocities on young girls and women, child/human rights violations, human trafficking, growing poverty and unemployment?
E – this letter means Empathy and Efficient. A religious person has to lead a life of incarnation – meaning get into the skins of the needy people, think with them, speak with them and do with them. It is sad to note that today most religious persons think for the needy, speak for the needy and do for the needy. Instead of living with the focus groups, they live aloof and become “god-fathers and god-mothers’. Religious persons need to be efficient in their work. How many religious persons exhibit efficiency in their day-to-day life?
L – this letter stands for Loving and Lovable. A religious person is expected to be a loving person – express love and concern for the needy people. The more they love others, the more lovable they become. Do religious people today have true love for others and in turn they are loved by others?
I – this letter means Intelligent and Integrity. A religious person needs to prove himself/herself to be an intelligent person in his/her dealings. A truly intelligent person will definitely pay attention to the value of integrity. Religious persons must practice what they preach and they must preach only what they practice. Today a wide gap is noted between preaching and practicing among religious persons. Are the religious persons try to maintain integrity in their lives?
G – this letter stands for Good-hearted and Goal-oriented. A religious person must be filled with goodness and he/she must have clear short-term and long-term goals. A wise person has said, “A person without dream (vision) is a dead person”. Every religious congregation has a set of beautifully described vision, mission, goal and objectives on papers. How many religious persons sincerely strive or work towards the realization of their set vision?
I – this letter means Inclusive mindset and Inter-religious. In today’s world we see divisions in every sector. There are many excluded communities who are still not on the mainstream of development. Are the educational and developmental programs designed by the religious persons inclusive in nature? Today in India we live in a multi-religious context. Various religions co-exist. The second Vatican council said that God exists in every religion and everyone who follows his/her religion sincerely will have salvation. Do the religious persons have religious tolerance, uphold the values of every religion and adopt inter-religious approach in their programs?
O – this letter stands for Observant and Outreach. A religious person must observe everything that is happening in the society, country and world. Keen observation will help them identify the burning issues. Every religious congregation is called to reach out to the unreached communities. Do religious people observe what is happening in today’s society and design appropriate outreach programs in order to serve their focus groups?
U – this letter means Unique and Understanding. Most religious congregations focus on uniformity. Every member in the religious congregation is unique and hence that uniqueness must be recognized and respected. A religious person must understand others instead of misunderstanding. Are the religious persons recognizing the uniqueness or individuality and trying to understand others?
S – this letter stands for three values namely Service, Sensitive and Sacrifice. A religious person is called to serve the needy – wash the feet of others. Do religious congregations today exhibit servant-leadership? Religious people must become sensitive like the Good Samaritan who sensed the need of the wounded traveller. He sacrificed his comfort, time, energy and money. Are religious persons sensitive like the Good Samaritan? Do religious people come out of their comfort-zones and make sacrifices for their focus groups?
It is often noted that when a nun is raped or a priest or church building is attacked, almost all religious congregations come out to the streets and undertake public meetings, protest marches, rallies and candle-light processions. But when a non-Christian girl is raped or women atrocities occur, how many religious people come forward to protest against such crimes?
Members of the Christian community in the national capital on February 19, 2023 staged a protest at Jantar Mantar to draw the government, judiciary and civil society’s attention to the rising incidents of crime against the community. It was indeed a show of strength.
Some months ago, the Indian wrestlers protested at the same Jantar Mantar against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over allegations of sexual harassment. Top Indian grapplers such as Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and many other wrestlers were involved in the protest against the WFI chief. The Farmers’ Association, Priyanka Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Kejriwal, women’s associations and human rights and social activists expressed their solidarity with the protesters.
How many bishops or leaders of religious congregations expressed their support to the protesters? If they did not express their solidarity, then, why is this insensitivity? Is it not time for them to practice the values mentioned in this write-up?