Catholic church plea on Dalit Christians & Mandal  

Pune: Archbishop Alphonsus Mathias, newly elected President of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India, on Jan. 10 made a strong plea for extension of reservation and other facilities provided to Dalit Christians. “Dalit Christians have to be treated on par with other Dalits and these people should not be denied any concessions or facilities in the name of religion,” he said in an interview to the CBCI’s Press Committee. Archbishop Mathias (63) was unanimously re-elected President of this apex body of Indian Catholic Christians for next three years on Jan. 13. Bishop Gratian Mundadan was relected Vice President of the Conference. The CBCI has extended its strong support to the Mandal Commission’s recommendations. (Deccan Herald Jan. 12).