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Christianity Today, February, 2008 |

Caste Down

Commission's decision imperils benefits for Christian Dalits.

Brad A. Greenberg | posted 1/15/2008 08:41AM

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Joseph D'Souza, president of the All India Christian Council and founder of the Dalit Freedom Network, said the NAE's "landmark statement has been a long time coming." "There is a social side to this which is one of real prejudice and feeling that something is wrong with the DNA of Dalits," D'Souza said.

Cizik said he hopes the statement will move the Indian and U.S. governments to action. In 1996, an evangelical campaign against worldwide religious persecution, including an NAE statement of conscience on the issue, paved the way for Congress's 1998 International Religious Freedom Act.

Related Elsewhere:

Our articles on the situation of Christian Dalits in India include:

India's Burning Issue | Conversions in Orissa—and the violent reaction against them—highlight tension in India's not-so-dead caste system. (January 10, 2008)

Caught on Tape | Videotaped attack in India triggers protests as Dalit Christians head to Supreme Court. (July 20, 2007)

India Undaunted | Escalating repression can't seem to dampen the church's growth. (May 1, 2004)

Liveblog has more news and commentary on recent developments in India.

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February 2008, Vol. 52, No. 2

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A. S. Mathew

Posted: January 16, 2008 5:59 AM

The so called high class Hindus deliberately kept the lowest class as an object for exploitation simply telling a lie to them that their low caste birth was due to the past sins. How terribly, religion is being used to exploit people? Even the Dalits who came to Christian faith had to suffer some sort of mistreatment from the Christians of upper class origins. Until the world community raise their voice against the 20th century "apartheid of India", miracles will not take place in liberating Dalits from the clutches of exploitation in the name of religion.

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