Mumbai (AsiaNews) At long last the "Indian Church has been recognised as an institution committed to the defence of human rights". This was the satisfied feedback of Cardinal Varkey to yesterday's news that the Kerala High Court (south-west India) had overruled the decision of the state's Bar Association to deny priests and sisters the right to practice their profession.
The High Court upheld the appeal of two sisters and a priest who some months ago had been refused admission to the Bar because their "religious activities" were deemed incompatible with the legal profession.
In an interview with AsiaNews, the cardinal, archbishop of the diocese of
Ernakulam-Angamaly, based in Koci the capital of Kerala expressed satisfaction for the "just and correct" ruling of the Court. "It is a judgment which everyone was expecting. What is more interesting is that the Justice not only overruled the decision of the Bar Association, he also welcomed the religious nuns and priests as advocates."
In their appeal, Fr Thomas Puthussery, Sr Teena Jose and Sr Tessa recalled the fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution and claimed they were victims of religious discrimination.
According to the Cardinal, yesterday's verdict was "a sign of respect for the Catholic Church, committed to the truth and love for the poor". The cardinal is convinced that "in this way, it has been recognized as an institution that defends human rights in all their integrity."
But Cardinal Vithayathil did not seem wholly satisfied: "I am interested to know why the religious were refused by the Bar Association; perhaps some saw them as a threat to a secular legal system. Nuns and priests who are advocates render their professional services to the poor as part of their consecrated life.
"The poor are often unable to secure any justice because of the exorbitant fees charged by the lawyers. The religious render their services fee-of-charge to those in need, out of their vocation and love for their neighbour."
