Cedric Prakash (right) with Hazaribagh Bishop Charles Soreng at the inauguration ceremony in Ranchi. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, July 19: Cedric Prakash, who was conferred with the highest civilian honour of France, Knight of the Legion of Honour, earlier this month, today stressed that the Roman Catholic Church needed to be more outspoken and vocal to ensure justice to the poor and marginalised.

Director of Prashant, the Ahmedabad-based Jesuit centre for human rights, Prakash has been championing the cause of human rights in Gujarat and has testified before the US commission for international religious freedom in Washington in the wake of the 2002 Gujarat carnage.

The French honour was conferred on him for his lifetime commitment and promotion of human rights in India.

Speaking to The Telegraph soon after inaugurating a two-day workshop at Ranchi on social teaching of the Church, Prakash pointed out that the Church, in the role of an NGO, needed to be more outspoken and receptive to the hopes and aspirations of the common people.

?The Roman Catholic Church can?t substitute the government. At the same time, it remains strongly opposed to all forms of violence.

However, through satyagraha it can champion the cause of the poor, the exploited, down-trodden and the marginalised to ensure peace, justice and equality for all,? Prakash said.

Referring to Jharkhand, Prakash said the time has come when the Church here needed to play a more proactive role in the wake of the large-scale migration of tribals, absence of proper healthcare facilities, lack of developmental activities, high rate of illiteracy and rampant exploitation of tribals and Dalits.

?The Church runs scores of schools and educational institutions. However, it should feel ashamed that it is turning out more corrupt citizens, many of whom are at the helm of affairs,? he said.

Outlining the role of the church, Prakash said the institution needs to redraft its entire curriculum and ensure value-based education system instead of paying more attention to marks and scores.