The Church walks in the footsteps of its founder. It is bound to liberate people from sinful situations; unequal economic conditions; oppressive social circumstances; and similar conditions that make virtuous existence impossible. For the Church and its personnel, Christ is the model, and the only one, in their preaching and practice. Other ‘liberators’ came many centuries later. Hence it is a mischievous misrepresentation of history to state that Church’s liberating activities are linked to one or other leader who propagated a particular ideology or philosophy.

The custodial death of Fr. Stan Swamy, his martyrdom, has brought to the fore his crucial role in ‘liberating’ activities. A conspiracy seems to have been unleashed to malign the Church portraying some of its pro-active members, especially priests, as foot soldiers of Marxian ideology. Questions have been raised on the involvement of Church personnel in lending a helping hand to Tribals, Dalits and the marginalized in their fight for survival and safeguarding rights. Those who doubt the intentions of the Church personnel who join hands with the poor and downtrodden, driven by the spirit of social justice, are ignorant of their missionary zeal imbibed from their role model. Those who take umbrage at the works of pro-active priests and nuns are ill-informed about the historical Jesus and the social teachings of the Church.

The Church’s vision of a society is inclusive; it does not leave out anyone from its embrace. Tribals, Dalits, the poor and the rich are equals in its inclusive vision. The Church and its personnel are for the people and with the people, having special concern for those surviving on the margins. Pope Francis in a well-articulated and moving address to priests and prelates had expressed this relation in the following words: Shepherds should have the smell of the sheep. This can happen only when they live with the sheep; walk with them; dine with them; and guard them against eagle-eyed predators. Stan Swamy, along with many others, did so. For them the fate of Tribals is their fate; the destiny of Dalits is their destiny. 

The Church’s mission for social justice and its solidarity with the poor are as old as its existence. Aberrations could be there, and still there. Deviations could have happened, and are still happening. But that does not dilute its core ideology and principles which have their origin in the Gospel. The culture of caring, sharing and giving is inherent in the teaching of Jesus Christ. And they get ‘repeatedly reiterated’ in the teachings of the Church. It is sheer absurdity to attribute any kind of motives, other than helping out those struggling for their survival, in the activities of the Church and its personnel.  

Stan Swamy and his likes in the Church are no deviants from the value system and mandate given by Christ. Serving the poor and fighting for their cause represent the essence of Christianity. The path to accomplish this objective may vary, but surely it is never one of violence. The Church could not be found fault if its vision and mission find their reflection in some other ideology. No amount of insinuations by vested interests can make it waver on its core values.