THEME:
STOP
AIDS; KEEP THE PROMISE - LEADERSHIP“LEADERSHIP”,
NEED FOR INNOVATION, VISION AND PERSEVERANCE IN THE FACE
OF THE AIDS CHALLENGE
World AIDS Day began in 1988 when health
ministers from around the world met and agreed on the
concept of the day as an opportunity for all to come together
to show solidarity for people living with HIV and AIDS.
The Year 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS
Day, a day on which we realize that though we have come
a long way since 1988, there is still much more to be
done.
Magnitude of the problem
During 2007, more than 2.5 million adults and children
became infected with HIV. By the end of the year, an estimated
33 million people worldwide were living with HIV/AIDS.
In India out of a population of 1,129,866,154 (2007),
2,300,000 are estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS, with
38% HIV cases being women (ages 15-49). Despite recent
improvements in access to antiretroviral treatment (ART),
two million people died due to AIDS in 2008. (Source:
UNAIDS 2008 Report of the global AIDS epidemic).
While treatment for HIV and AIDS has
improved and become more widespread since 1988, many still
do not have access to it; in 2007, only 31% of those in
low to middle income countries who needed treatment received
it. Despite HIV awareness now reaching nearly all areas
of the globe, infection rates are still happening 2.7
times faster than the increase in number of people receiving
treatment. Even today stigma and discrimination continues
to be a major threat to universal access to treatment.
The need for innovative,
visionary leadership
What counts for so many new HIV infections? Where did
we go wrong?... There is a lack of leadership with vision,
innovation and perseverance in the field of HIV/AIDS.
In 2007, people around the world were encouraged to take
the lead to stop AIDS. Campaigns took the shape of marches,
leadership discussions, public awareness events and pledges
from leaders. These events all helped to put the theme,
“leadership” in the spotlight.
This year also, Leadership is the theme
for World AIDS Day. This theme is promoted with the campaign
slogan, “LEADERSHIP”, NEED FOR INNOVATION,
VISION AND PERSEVERANCE IN THE FACE OF THE AIDS CHALLENGE.
Building on the 2006 theme of accountability, this year’s
theme highlights the discrepancy between the commitments
that have been made to halt the spread of AIDS, and actions
taken to follow them through. Leadership empowers everyone
– individuals, organisations, governments –
to take the lead and make a difference in response to
AIDS. In the past, people have offered leadership –
now it is time to deliver. Promises must be kept, and
people must feel empowered to act. So, the need of the
hour is ‘LEAD-EMPOWER-DELIVER’.
Leadership taken by the
church in India on HIV/AIDS:
The Catholic Church in India has been
involved in the areas of prevention, care and treatment
for patients and their families affected with HIV and
AIDS. It continues to lobby and advocate for the rights
of PLHA (People living with HIV/AIDS) at the local, state,
national and international levels. The Church has a vision
that PLHA have the right to livelihood, right to health
care and right to social security as people created in
the image of God and are endowed with human dignity and
worth.
The Church is concerned about the rapid
growth of HIV/AIDS and its socio-economic and religio-cultural
consequences for India. She painfully recognizes the severity
of its consequences on the disadvantaged and vulnerable
groups in society, especially women and children. In a
case where a 7 year old girl died of AIDS, the whole family
got ostracized and the village people boycotted them.
(Warangal, Hyderabad, September, 2008.) The church is
alarmed at the discrimination that PLHA still face at
home, places of worship, medical institutions as well
as society at large. The message of the Church is clear:
every human being is created in God's image, redeemed
by Jesus, and called to everlasting life. Accordingly,
all persons have worth and dignity, rooted simply in who
they are (and not in what they do or achieve). This conviction
about the preciousness of every human life is the foundation
of the Church's teachings about HIV and AIDS.
The church affirms that as the body of
Christ, it is also infected and affected, because when
one member suffers, everyone else suffers. She too needs
healing and the people of God become communities of healing
and wholeness. That is why the Church is involved in providing
pastoral care, medical aid and is networking with NGOs
and other FBOs. The Church looks at HIV and AIDS not only
as a health issue but as a broader development issue with
wide spread ramifications.
The CBCI Commission for Health is in
the process of establishing 45 Community Care Centres
(CCC’s) for PLHA in the states of West Bengal, Orissa,
Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Gujarat between the period of
June 2007 to June 2009. This is being done with support
from the Global Fund Round 6, through Population Foundation
of India. The Health Commission is also coordinating TB
control program in 11 states, in collaboration with the
Revised National TB Control Program (RNTCP), CHAI and
CRS, with the support of the Global Fund Round 4, through
the Central TB Division of the Government of India. The
initiative taken by the Health Commission to establish
the CBCI-IGNOU Chair for Health and Social Welfare in
2000 to train more people in the areas of Health, HIV
and development is also having its positive impact on
the larger society.
In the past one year, through the CCC’s
supported by the Health Commission of CBCI, the church
has provided care for 5,264 PLHA of which 2,371 people
accessed the services of the CCC for the first time. Among
the 2,371 people, 1,114 accessed in-patient care and 1,257
accessed out-patient care. Many have only seen or heard
of people dying of HIV and AIDS and many people believed
that drugs will kill them. It is important that they learn
from those whose lives have been saved and who have benefited
from the drug treatments, renewing a quality of life they
would not have had otherwise.
Meena (name changed) was in her late
teens when she was married. Little did she know that her
husband was HIV positive before marriage. In a few months
of her marriage she became a widow. Even before she could
grieve about her husband’s death she was thrown
out of the family. The awareness that she too was HIV
positive was more than what she could handle. When she
reached the hands of the group of sisters who ran a CCC
(Navajeevan) in Mokama, she was emaciated and determined
to commit suicide. She discovered new life in the CCC.
Today she is one of the successful outreach workers (ORW)
of that CCC. She goes around helping other unfortunate
women discover life and life in its fullness...
These are the little ways in which the
church is giving leadership in the field of HIV and AIDS;
leadership with vision, innovation and perseverance, little
ways in which the Church is trying to ‘LEAD-EMPOWER-DELIVER’.
Concluding Note
We have only two years to reach the goal
of “universal access to comprehensive prevention
programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010”.
To achieve this goal, we need innovative leadership. Governments
must deliver on the promises they have made. Communities
must encourage leadership of its members. Individuals
must feel empowered to access treatment, to know their
rights and take action against stigma and discrimination.
The leadership role needs to be taken not only by the
religious leaders but each and every individual being
a citizen should portray a leadership role by facilitating
accurate information and by promoting responsible behaviour
to prevent the further spread of HIV. They can help by
giving leadership on providing health, social, and pastoral
service to people affected by or vulnerable to the pandemic,
and making tangible efforts to eliminate the irrational
fear, stigma, and discrimination resulting from this global
health challenge.
“WE KNOW THAT THE FIGHT AGAINST
THE APPARENT POWER OF HIV/AIDS WILL BE LONG AND COMPLICATED,
BUT WITH HOPE IN THE POWER OF GOD MANIFESTED TO US THROUGH
CHRIST’S RESURRECTION WE KNOW THAT WE ARE EQUIPPED
FOR THE TASK.”
Yours in Jesus, the Divine Healer,
November 1, 2008, New Delhi
+ Archbishop Bernard Moras,
Archbishop of Bangalore
Chairman, Commission for Health
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India
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10th
REGIONAL CONVENTION UTTAR PRADESH REGION
 The
10th, ICYM Uttar Pradesh Regional Convention
took place at St.Peter’s College,
Agra from 25th – 28th October’ 08. This
was attended by more than four hundred
delegates from eight dioceses.
Most Rev. Albert D’Souza, Archbishop
of Agra, presided over the Inaugural Eucharist along
with the Regional Youth Chairman Most Rev. Oswald Lewis,
Bishop of Jaipur concelebrated by twenty three priests from
the Region.
Fr. Sunny Kottoor, Diocesan Youth Director
of Agra, welcomed the gathering. Fr. Thomson Thomas CMI,
the Regional Youth Director, Fr. Alwyn D’ Souza, National
Youth Director, Youth Chairman Bishop Oswald Lewis, Archbishop
Albert D’ Souza, Mr. Rajeev Rautela PCS, ADM City,
Agra, Mr. Nazir Ahmad, an entrepreneur from Agra, addressed
the gathering. Mr. Raju Hembrom, Agra Diocesan Youth President
proposed the vote of thanks. The Region along with Ms. Sapna
Robert, National ICYM General Secretary and Mr. Jomon Thomas,
ICYM Vice president. felicitated Sr. Maria G. Sangma, MSMHC,
for her seven years yeomen service as the National Youth
Lady Animator. The School Children and Agra Parish Youth
along with Seminarians from St. Lawrence and St. Francis
Xavier put up a wonderful cultural evening.
On the second day “A
journey with St. Paul” – being the theme
the Jhansi Diocesen youth led
the delegates through a meaningful Morning Prayer followed
by the Eucharistic celebration prepared by the Allahabad
diocesan youth. The three
sessions were held on the life of St.Paul,
Bible and Lectio Divina.
The calisthenics were conducted by the youth of Bareilly,
Jhansi and Agra
dioceses. The Games, Bible Quiz and cultural
programme were edifying and enjoyable.
On the third day Morning Prayer and Eucharistic celebrations
were organized by Meerut and Lucknow
diocesan delegates. Three work shops were conducted on the
Word of God. Agra,
Meerut, Varanasi
diocesan youth conducted the calisthenics. The evening Taize
Prayer was conducted by the Bareilly diocese youth and a
cultural programme by Gorakhpur,
Bijnor, Jhansi
and Lucknow diocesan delegates.
The fourth and the concluding day began
with Morning Prayer by the host diocese Agra and held two
sessions on Personality Development.
The convention concluded with the Eucharistic
Celebration by the Bishop of Jaipur Rt.
Rev. Oswald J. Lewis, Chairman of the UPRYC.
The Youth Convention was enlightening and
it was an effort to ignite the ICYM theme
“…LIVE THE WORD
AND LIBERATE THE WORLD…” in
the life of the youth.
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Fr. Bernard's Blood Help Orissa To Overcome The Current
Trials
 The
church in Orissa under grief following the death of Fr.
Bernard Digal, who was succumbed injuries during Orissa's
anti-Christian violence, died at St. Thomas Hospital, Chenai
at about 8.45 p.m. on 28th October 2008. May his blood help
Orissa to overcome the current trials.
On Saturday, October 25, a feverish Fr.
Digal was taken to St. Thomas Hospital in Chennai, in Tamil
Nadu. It is reported that Fr. Digal was under the medication
in the same hospital and breathed his last out of heart
attacked. Prior to that he suffered Dengu fever and succumb
injuries. The doctors operated on him to remove a blood
clot from his brain, caused by the beating on the night
he was attacked. Yesterday, his lungs collapsed and he fell
into a coma. Fr. Digal was given a respirator to keep him
alive, but his body gave out.
Fr. Digal was hospitalized in at the Holy
Spirit Hospital in Mumbai Last September 10, 2008.
Fr. Digal (47) hails from Tiangia village,
under Beticola Parish in Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar.
Tiangia is a land adorned with its heroic stories of martyrs,
known for its small-scale businesses, high levels of education
and various traditional art forms, hills and other places
of natural beauty.
Fr. Digal was born on 27th January 1962
and he is the second son of late Mahajon Digal and Lucia
Digal. He has a brother and three sisters.
He was ordained priest on 22nd May 1992
and served the Archdiocese in various capacities such as
parish priest, professor, vocation promoter, youth director,
diocesan counsellor, financial manager, spiritual adviser
etc.
Funeral is scheduled to be held on at Raikia,
Friday on 30th October 2008.
Fr. Rabindra Swalsingh said "Death
of Fr. Bernard is shocking and very sad news. He was a young
priest with a lot of experience both in administration and
pastoral ministry."
Mr. Ashok Nayak one of his good childhood
friend said that Fr. Bernard was everything for me, I feel
his death is unfathomable. Mr. Prodeep Mishra, the accountant,
says I feel that my own soul has departed from me.
Fr. Bernard narrated his story during an
interview after he was attacked during the recent flare
up in the state - On 23rd August 2008, I and Mr. Sisir Pradhan
set out from Archbishop's house and reached to Sankarakhole
Parish at about 10.30 p.m. and had dinner, as we were preparing
to go to bed after a tiring day we received a call from
one of my friends about Swami Laxmananda Saraswati's murder.
I could not believe and went to bed. I was awakened by the
sounds of slogans and yelling outside. As I started to concentrate
on what they were saying I could hear them shouting "
Kill the missionaries…" Fear struck me and we
(I, Fr. Alexandar Chandi, (65 ) Parish priest, Sankrakhol
and Mr. Sisir) remained inside the church compound whole
day and moved to the forest for the night.
On 25th, as the situation got worse, we
kept getting information on attacks and killings in the
villages. We got stuck in the forest and survived on dry
food. Condition of Fr. Chandi was sensitive because of his
age and sickness and seemed like he might collapse at anytime.
We had to look for a safer place for shelter so we moved
towards the house of Mr. Pare Kanhar so that we could use
his motor cycle. He is Fr. Lameswar Kanhar's elder brother
who is close friend of mine. As we reached, his house it
was on fire, the entire household article including the
motorcycle were set ablaze.
From there we moved to Fr. Lameswars' sister's
place in the same area to be informed that her house was
also on target and she suggested us to look for a safer
place. Thereafter, we went to Dudukangia to take shelter
along with other 15 Christian families. As we reached there
and requested shelter, people refused and informed that
all of them are targeted. Finally, we decided to sleep in
the church which was broken and set ablaze with only standing
walls, thinking that the mob may not come and we were tired
of walking all day and our legs were swollen.
At about 11.30 p.m, miscreants came into
the broken church, seeing them we ran in different directions.
Driver Pradhan could run first as I and Sankrakhole father
were caught. We heard them saying "Tanku podaiba, Nialogao".
I pleaded them not to kill him but they
gave no heed to it, started hammering him with crowbars,
lathis and axes etc. They stripped him completely naked
and asked for mobile phones if any. Beating came like heavy
rain. As some of them were beating him, others set fire.
Seeing the fire I ran and was caught at
a distance. I could not stand anymore and just fell to the
ground. They started hitting me black and blue and as they
were beating me I could make out that they also missed shots
and the blows went to the ground but many fell on my body
too and I finally collapsed. I could see blood flowing from
my head and fell unconscious. They thought I was dead and
left me lying in the same place. In my semi unconscious
state I could hear the cries of a wolf and thought that
it would feast on me while I lay helpless there. I prayed
"Lord, I might not even get a burial". I gathered
all my strength and shouted for help. After some time two
villagers came to see me as I shouted "oh my God help
me". I was freezing as the wet ground made my body
numb. I requested them to bring the broken door of the church
so that I can lie on it and they did so and also got some
water for me. I was feeling a bit better and the villagers
left me alone and I stayed there until Mr. Sisir, the driver
found me in the morning. He looked scared and I kept pleading
him to take me to hospital. He then informed police and
along with few other villagers I was rescued. I was then
taken to the public health centre in Tikabali and was later
moved to a district hospital. After two days I was moved
to Kalinga Hospital Bhubaneswar after lot of pressure on
the administration.
Fr.Dibakar Parichha said that Fr. Bernard
narrated this story lying in the bed in Kalinga Hospital
when he went to see him. He hardly could speak and as I
tried asking him about his condition, he started sobbing.
He had bandages all over the body. I touched his leg which
was bandaged from thigh to the foot, he responded spontaneously
saying "there is no place left in my body where I have
not been beaten up" and he shed tears again.
On Saturday, October 25, Fr. Digal was
moved to St. Thomas Hospital in Chennai, in Tamil Nadu.
The doctors operated on him to remove a blood clot from
his brain, caused by the beating on the night he was attacked.
Yesterday, his lungs collapsed and he went into coma. Fr.
Digal was put on a ventilator to keep him alive, but his
body gave up.
--- Fr. Ashok
Kumar Singh
Archdiocese Cuttack-Bhubaneswar
CUTTACK, Orissa, OCT. 29, 2008, 13.00 Hrs (Ashok Kumar Singh
/ CBCI News)
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Will Be Able To Identify The Person Who Raped me
NEW DELHI, OCT. 23, 2008, 18.00 Hrs (CBCI
News):
I will be able to identify the person who
raped me - Sr. Meena to the media at the press conference
in New Delhi today.
Following is the Statement of Sr. Meena:
On 24th August, around 4.30 pm, hearing
the shouting of a large crowd, at the gate of Divya Jyoti
Pastoral Centre, I ran out through the back door and escaped
to the forest along with others. We saw our house going
up in flames. Around 8.30 p.m. we came out of the forest
and went to the house of a Hindu gentle man who gave us
shelter.
On 25th August, around 1.30 p.m., the mob
entered the room where I was staying in Prahald's house,
one of them slapped me on my face, caught my hair and pulled
me out of the house. Two of them were holding my neck to
cut off my head. Others told them to take me out to the
road, I saw Fr. Thomas Chellan also being taken out and
being beaten. The mob consisting of 40-50 men was armed
with lathis, axes, spades, crowbars, iron rods, sickles
etc. They took both of us to the main road. Then they led
us to the burnt down Jan Vikas building saying that they
were going to throw us into the smoldering fire.
When we reached the Jan Vikas building,
they threw us to the verandah on the way to the dinning
room, which was full of ashes and broken glass pieces. One
of them tore my blouse and others my undergarments. Father
Thomas Chellan protested but they beat him and pulled him
out from there. They pulled out my saree and one of them
stepped on my right hand and another on my left hand and
then a third person raped me on the verandah mentioned above.
When it was over, I managed to get up and put my petticoat
and saree. The another young man whom I can identify caught
me and took me to a room near the staircase. He opened his
pants and was attempting to rape me when the crowd reached
there. One man in the crowd told him not to do any further
harm and so he left me. I will be able to identify the person
who raped me and other three persons who stepped on my hands
and tore my saree etc.
I hid myself under the staircase. The crowd
was shouting' where is that sister, come let us rape her,
at least 100 people rape. They found me under the staircase
and took me out to the road. There I saw Fr. Chellan was
kneeling down and the crowd was beating him with hands and
sticks. They were searching for a rope to tie both of us
together to burn us in fire. Someone suggested to make us
parade naked. They made us to walk on the road till Nwagaon
market which was half a kilometer from there. They made
us to fold our hands and walk. I was with petticoat and
saree as they had already torn away my blouse and undergarments.
They tried to strip even there but I resisted and they went
on beating me with hands on my cheeks and head and with
sticks on my back several times.
When we reached the market place a dozen
of OSAP policemen were there. I went to them asking to protect
me and I sat in between two policemen but they did not move.
One from the crowd again pulled me out from there and they
wanted to lock us in their temple mandap. The crowd led
me and Fr. Thomas Chellan to the Nuagaon block building
saying that they will hand us over to B.D.O. From there
along with the block officer the mob took us to the police
outpost, Nuagaon, other police men remained far.
The mob said that they will comeback after
eating and one of them who attacked me remained back in
the police outpost. Policemen then came to police outpost.
They were talking very friendly with the man who had attacked
me and stayed back . In police outpost we remained until
the inspector incharge of Balliguda with his police team
came and took us to Balliguda. They were afraid to take
us straight to the police station and they kept us sometime
in jeep in the garage, from there they brought us to the
station. The inspector inchareg and other two government
officers took me privately and asked whatever happened to
me. I narrated every thing in detail to the police, how
I was attacked, raped, taken away from policemen, paraded
half naked and how the police men did not help me when I
asked for help while weeping bitterly. I saw the inspector
writing down. The inspector asked me "are you interested
in filing FIR?" Do you now what will be the consequence?
At about 10.00 p.m., I was taken for medical check up accompanied
by a lady police officer to Balliguda Hospital. They were
afraid to keep us in police station, saying that the mob
may attack police station. So the police took us to the
IB (inspection bungalow) where CRP men were camping.
On 26/08/08 around 9.00 a.m. we were taken
to Baliguda Police Station. When I was writing the FIR,
the Inspector In-Charge (IIC) asked me to hurry up and not
to write in detail. When I started writing about the police,
the I .I. C told me this is not the way to write FIR, make
it short. Sot I re-wrote it for the third time in one and
half page. I filed the FIR, but I was not given a copy of
it.
At around 4.00 pm the inspector in charge
of Balliguda police station along with some other government
officers put us in the OSRTC bus to Bhubaneshwar along with
other stranded passengers. Police were there till Rangamati
where all passengers had their supper. After that I did
not see the police. We got down near Nayagarh and traveled
in private vehicle and reached Bhubaneshwar around 2.00
am on 27th August.
State police failed to stop the crimes,
failed to protect me from the attackers, they were friendly
with the attackers, and they tried their best that I did
not register an FIR, not make complaints against police,
police did not take down my statement as I narrated in detail
and they abandoned me half of the way. I was raped and now
I don't want to be victimized by the Orissa Police. I want
C.B.I enquiry. God bless India, God bless you all.
Sr. Meena |
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 Indian
Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM)
Youth Activ8 Foundation
Launched
On October 02, 2008
Inter-National
Non-Violence Day
At India Gate, New Delhi
The
160 Catholic Diocesan Youth Councils and 20,000 Grassroot Units
working for the Youth for peace campaign
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ICYM Launches "Youth for Peace"
Campaign
On
02 October, CBCI Youth Commission, Youth Activ8 Foundation along
with ICYM (Indian Catholic Youth Movement) will be launching
"Youth for Peace" campaign
from India Gate, New Delhi. The 160 Catholic Diocesan Youth Councils
and 20,000 Grassroot Units shall also observe the International
Non-Violence Day. The day will be marked as offering prayers especially
for Peace and Justice in the World.
The ICYM strongly condemns all forms of violence
and specially the violence committed against the innocent people
and the destruction of their property along with the desecration
of religious places. Every citizen of this country has a right
to live, propagate and practice his/her religion as a constitutional
right and Government is duty bound to protect people from organized
terror and groups that inflict fear among the poor, innocent persons.
Specially we condemn the atrocities committed
against the Christians in Orissa, M.P. and Karnataka. For the
up coming three years all the ICYM units will be implementing
the action plan of "Youth for Peace".
On the basis of Peace Campaign the units will
conduct prayer and fasting, peace rally, signature campaign, lighting
candle for peace, peace seminars, symposiums, street plays and
inter-religious prayers.
Oct 2nd programme will be lead by Fr. Alwyn M.
J. D’Souza, the National Youth Director, Sr. Maria Sangma
the National Lady Youth Animator, Ms Sapna Robert, National Gen.
Secretary and Mr. Jomon T. Vellapally, National Vice President
of ICYM, Fr. Lancy Paul, Northern Regional, Delhi Diocesan Youth
Director, Mr. S.L. Peter.
----Sr. Maria Goretti Sangma,
msmhc
National Youth Coordinator, ICYM
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