Roman Catholic Church seek Sarna Code

• Church – Tribes

1. Roman Catholic Church seek Sarna Code

Key Points:

1. The Roman Catholic Church wrote to Chief Minister Hemant Soren requesting a bill for a separate code for Sarna religion, guaranteeing the rights of the tribal community to their language, religion and culture be introduced and passed during the current session of Jharkhand assembly commenced on September 18.
2. Tribals of the country are placed under the Scheduled Tribes list. Their safety, rights and identity are guaranteed under Article 25, 29 and 342 of the Indian constitution. Jharkhand is home to numerous tribes. To ensure protection of tribal identity, culture and their existence, a separate Sarna bill be brought and passed during the ongoing monsoon session of the Jharkhand assembly and sent to the Union government for concurrence,” a letter, jointly signed by Felix Toppo, archbishop and Theodore Mascarenhas, auxiliary bishop, Ranchi, said.
3. The letter further added that in all the tribal dominated states, including Jharkhand, the process of implementation of the National Register of Citizens be kept in abeyance till a separate Sarna religious code is granted to tribes all over the country.
4. “The demand for a separate Sarna religious code has the support of all the bishops of Jharkhand and Andamans” the letter stressed.
5. Mascarenhas said prior to the Jharkhand assembly elections held last year, a number of political parties had included the demand for a separate Sarna religious code in their poll manifestos and that the parties are now expected to honour their commitments.
6. “A separate Sarna code would enable Tribals to register themselves as Adivasis when Census is conducted in 2021. A distinct Sarna code will also guarantee protection of tribal identity, language and culture. The Roman Catholic Church has always been a strong proponent of a distinct Sarna religious code for Tribals,” he added.

(timesofindia.indiatimes.com, 20 September 2020)  (News Link)

• Church – Finance

1. Government funds for repairing Churches in Nilgris

Key Points:

1. The Nilgiris Collector Ms.J.Innocent Divya said that the government is implementing a scheme for churches functioning in own buildings. Pointing out that about Rupees five crores has been set aside for the purpose, she said that the government will entertain as many applications as possible.
2. Stating this, Adverting to the eligibility for availing the benefit, Ms.Divya said that the churches should be at least 10 years old and both the building and the land on which it is located should be registered. The applicant should not have received any funds from abroad for carrying out repairs. This should be certified in the authorised format.
3. Depending on the nature of the repairs and age of the building a sum of rupees one lakh will be given for churches which were 10 to 15 years old,rupees two lakhs for those which were 15 to 20 years old and rupees three lakhs for the buildings which were over 20 years old.
4. Applications can be downloaded from the website www.bcmbcmw@tn.gov.in and submitted along with the certificates and necessary documents to the District Backward Classes Welfare Office.
5. (covaipost.com, 16 September 2020) (News Link)

 Church – Temples

1. Never suggested change in rules, says TTD Chairperson YV Subba Reddy

Key Points:

1. TTD trust board chairperson YV Subba Reddy on Saturday said he had never suggested or indicated withdrawal of mandatory signing of declaration form for non-Hindus seeking darshan of Lord Venkateshwara.
2. Reiterating that he was against any political dialogue in Tirumala, he said he had only responded to the charges made by an opposition leader on TTD during a press briefing held on Friday. “I told the media that thousands of pilgrims come to Tirumala from across the world. Normally, 80,000 to one lakh pilgrims, including those of other faiths, visit the temple for Srivari darshan.
3. And it is humanly impossible to mandatorily seek declaration of faith and belief from all non-Hindus,” he said. The chairperson said he only said that neither Congress president Sonia Gandhi nor late Dr YS Rajasekhar Reddy had ever given such a declaration during their visits to Tirumala. As per TTD general rules, only Hindus are allowed darshan. Non-Hindus, who wish to have darshan, have to inform the TTD about their religion and declare the same in the form, according to rule No. 137.
4. Many non-Hindu politicians visited Tirumala and had darshan without signing the declaration form. “Hence I just said Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy need not have to sign the declaration to prove his faith in Lord Venkateswara,” he added.
5. Jagan started his Praja Sankalpa Yatra after seeking the blessings of Lord Venkateswara. After completing his padayatra, he reached Tirumala on foot and had darshan of the Lord again. When he won the elections, he came to Tirumala. “These are clear instances to show Jagan’s faith in Lord Venkateswara. That is why I had said that the Chief Minister need not have to sign any declaration to visit the temple for darshan of Lord Venkateswara,’’ Subba Reddy said.

(newindianexpress.com, 20 September 2020)  (News Link)