Slave
labor in the Catholic Church still!
The Hindu of
Thursday, 21st February 2013, Thiruvananthapuram edition in its page
11 brought out story of Ireland apologizing for ‘slave labor’ at Magdalene
Laundries, a Catholic Church affair.
It is no surprise for
the insiders at least! The church never fails to speak of justice while keeping
its own labor force poorly paid and kept without the usual facilities and
benefits due to a labor elsewhere.
They are made to work
extra hours and without statutory rest, holidays and other safety requirements.
It seems to exploit their vulnerabilities like unemployment and so on quite
often. Besides, Church men are known not to treat them with dignity and esteem,
amounting to human rights violations.
While enjoying all
the perquisites like free accommodation, electricity, telephone and sometimes
vehicle also, they seem to tolerate the minimum requirements workers need. They
preach poverty for others, while they themselves won’t practice it, in spite of
their vow of poverty besides that of celibacy/chastity and obedience! Justice,
the core concern of the scriptures is ignored conveniently! The anawim/poor of
Yahweh is despised at every possible opportunity, and are exploited enough.
Can the church, being
one of the biggest multinational employers, come out with its pay scales and
other labor related policies? Justice needs to begin there, not from the
pulpit!
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