‘The Church cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the building of a better world, and she cannot fail to contribute to the betterment of society,’ said Pope Francis in Fratelli Tutti (All are Brothers), his most acclaimed third Encyclical. Though the Pope does not advocate electoral politics, he makes a special mention that the Church cannot renounce the political dimension of life which involves people’s good. Pope’s reference assumes significance at a time when the Indian Church seems to send out a message that it is apolitical in its existence. The Church could be apolitical if politics is viewed only from an electoral or party angle. But politics also refers to activities aimed at improving people’s living. If so, it means speaking up for good governance and raising voice against bad laws. 

Hence, without getting into electoral and party politics, the Church can play its role in the politics of the country. The Pope’s words should ignite a spark, energize it and help play its role in ensuring a just society. The role model of the Church is none else but Jesus Christ who minced no words in challenging priestly class and castigating its supremacy. He gave a damn to laws that were creating hurdles and raising barricades in doing good to people.  He took head on the injustices thrust upon the people by the ruling class. The Church has also John the Baptist as its guiding spirit. He had openly challenged and questioned the ruler’s injustice and awakened the human conscience against it. The time is ripe for the Church to reiterate its role, modelled after Jesus Christ and John the Baptist. At a time when governments are building walls separating people and breaking down bridges among them, the Church has to swim against the current. It has to become an institution to ‘build bridges and break down walls.’ 

The country is passing through one of its most difficult times wherein the wealth of a handful of billionaires is skyrocketing while majority of people see a steep fall in their income. This cannot happen unless the ruling class and the decision-taking people are in tandem with the rich and the powerful. As lakhs of farmers are fighting for their livelihood, spending days on the streets, the government’s move to cut the bare necessities of life to them and trap them in prison-like conditions makes human conscience go numb. When rights activists like octogenarian Stan Swamy or Varavara Rao are arrested and put behind bars, it is the insensitivity of the government that gets exposed. The suppression of voices of critics and shutting down of internet services are symptoms of autocratic government.       

Unfortunately, the prophetic voices which once echoed in the face of injustices have gone feeble and faint.  It is time to take unequivocal stand on issues; it is unjust to keep quiet in the face of injustice, oppression and exploitation. The Church will be failing in its duty if it remains a mute spectator or reacts feebly against those who trample upon people’s rights. It becomes incumbent upon Church leaders to stand for social justice and not to be seen in cahoots with the ruling class which fails ordinary people.