HUA HIN, Thailand : The Church often chooses to protect its own institutions at the expense of the rights of people working within its own walls, a Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) symposium has been told.

The Church "has been among the great advocates of human rights in our times" but certain practices within its own institutions do not promote "freedom of conscience, gender equality and equal rights for all," Indian Montfort Brother Varghese Theckanath told the Nov. 16-21 symposium.

He was speaking on "Human Rights -- Challenges for Religious Life in Asia Today." About 60 men and women Religious attended the meeting, which has the theme, "The Impact of Today's Culture on the Church, especially as regards Consecrated Life in Asia Today."

"The Church leadership is rather selective when it comes to taking a political stand on issues," Brother Theckanath noted.

He cited as an example the firm anti-abortion stance taken by the Church in the Philippines compared with its failure to raise a voice for the right to food for the 3.3 million hungry households in that country.

Similarly in India, the Church has fought long battles for "freedom of religion" but has not protested against violence unleashed by the state on tribal people, mostly Christians, fighting for their survival and their land.

Brother Theckanath said the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's (CDF) current investigation into the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) of the United States raised questions on freedom of conscience and gender equality in the Church.

The LCWR has locked horns with the Vatican several times since 1979 when a leading member protested against Pope John Paul II's rejection of the ordination of women. LCWR's understanding of certain sensitive Church issues, such as women's ordination and homosexuality, is the subject of the current CDF probe.

"Do nuns have rights? What are they?" Brother Theckanath asked.

Some priests, speaking on the sidelines of the symposium, agreed with Brother Thekanath.

Indonesian Father Antonius Subianto Bunyamin said Church workers in his country are paid low salaries and receive few benefits such as health insurance.

Father Emil Moraes, superior of the Oblates in Bangladesh, agreed. He said the Church as an institution has also not spoken out against severe human rights violations in the country, such as land-grabbing from the tribal people, who are mostly Christians.

On the other hand, individual Catholics -- priests and laypeople -- have made large sacrifices in defending the rights of oppressed people.

Father Moraes believes the answer to the apparent contradictions in the Church lies in conscientization, or raising awareness of the issues and challenging preconceived ideas, in seminaries and among clergy.

FABC secretary general Oblate Archbishop Orlando Quevedo opened the symposium. Other speakers included Sri Lankan Redemptorist Father Vimal Tirimanna, who spoke on moral relativism, and Maryknoll Father Robert Astorino, founder and former executive director of the Union of Catholic Asian News, who spoke on social communication.

Courtesy : UCAN