Demand for Waqf like Board for Church properties

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.

R.L. Francis