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Poor Christian Liberation Movement (PCLM)
Office:- IIIA/145, Rachana, Vashali – 201010 (NCR) India
telefax 0120, 4569131 Cell. 9810108046 Email:-francisp...@yahoo.com
www.Dalitchristian.org
PRESS RELEASE
Demand for Waqf like Board for Church properties
New Delhi: 29 January, 2009: Considering the large scale fraudulent deals and
selling of mission properties in several places in India, the Madhya Pradesh
Minority Commission has suggested to the State Government to set up a Waqf like
Board to protect Church properties.
The Poor Christian Liberation Movement, President RL Francis, whole heartedly
supports the proposal mooted by the Madhya Pradesh State Minority Commission
and appeals the church hierarchy to examine the proposal with open mind and in
sincerity.
The Poor Christian Liberation Movement (PCLM) has earlier on August 27, 2004
submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister Dr. Man Mohan Singh demanding an
agency for the protection of Christian properties on the pattern of Waqf Board.
This demand was again repeated on June 6, 2008 in New Delhi.
Opposing the Waqf like board for the protection of Mission properties the
Madhya Pradesh Catholic Bishops Conference (MPCBC) has termed the proposal as
anti -constitutional and has opposed it on the technical ground. The MPCBC has
also called for the excommunication of the lone Christian member of the Madhya
Pradesh state Minority Commission Mr. Anand Bernard. This step by the local
bishops is not only against Christian ethics but also anti constitutional too.
The Poor Christian Liberation Movement demands withdrawal of excommunication
proposal by the MP Bishops and seeks apology from them.
After closely examining the proposal the PCLM has come to conclusion that there
is nothing objectionable in the proposal. If there was anything wrong in the
Wafk Board then Muslim brethren would have opposed it. Therefore, it is not
appropriate to oppose the proposal mooted by the M P state Minority
Commission for setting up a Waqf like Board for the Christians.
President of the Movement Mr. R L Francis said that, The matter is very serious
and affects Christian community at all India level hence the Poor Christian
Liberation Movement -PCLM demands that the Christian leaders and
intellectuals such as : Dr. John Deal, Fr. T. K. John s j, Mr.Wilson Thampu,
Mr.Joseph Gathia, Mr.Sajan George, Dr. J D’souza, Mr. Michael Pinto, Mrs. Mary
John, Ms.Ruth Manorama, Mr. J.Macwan ,Mr. P B Lomeo, Bishop R B Sandhu, Supreme
Court Advocate Julian Francis, Rev. Richard Howell, and others convey a
national level seminar for the community to discuss the proposal rather than
outrightly rejecting it.
The Poor Christian Liberation Movement (PCLM) appeals the Bishops of Madhya
Pradesh to withdraw the excommunication threat and tender unconditional apology
to Anand Bernard. The Movement further urges the Vatican representative in
India, the pro-nuncio, not to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.
India is a sovereign country.
Several cases of selling church property illegally have come of light in
Jabalpur, Damoh, Indore, Ratlam, Raipur, Bilaspur, Nagpur, Agra, Saharanpur,
Lucknow,Ludhiana, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Calcutta, etc. therefore it is
in the interest of the Christian community to have a Waqf Board like national
agency for the proper upkeep and protection of the mission property.
