Of Swords and Scholars

03.02.2010

In the middle of a prominent intersection in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, is a large modern sculpture known as ‘the three swords.’  The founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah spoke of the three ‘swords’ of faith, unity and discipline.  Certainly faith, unity and discipline are positive values. However, swords, as we know, are two edged. Can the sword of faith, when wielded by the state, still maintain a safe place for those of minority faiths or no faith? Can unity avoid being uniformity or make space for diversity? Can discipline be enforced by the state, without becoming coercion?

The use and abuse of religion in politics would appear to be the cause of many ills in  Pakistan and generates misunderstanding and discrimination against religious minorities, including the country’s Christian minority. It will not be resolved probably until the Government  reforms the Constitution and legal system which include the delicate question of the presence of religion in politics.  What can be done in the meantime?

The Commission for Justice and Peace at the Pakistani Conference of Bishops has been leading a campaign for years against the political use of religion, exemplified by the blasphemy law and the electoral law, which divides voters according to their religious affiliation.

Archbishop Saldanha, speaking on behalf of his fellow bishops, has said that "growing extremism in the country is one of the key issues in the abuse of religion in politics. Religion, in fact, is the main excuse in the hands of 'religious parties', who have played a key role in leading the country to this threshold.”

The Catholic Church seeks the consent of the other minority religious communities and civil society itself when  it asks the government for constitutional reform and to repeal those laws that lead to religious discrimination. Subtle discrimination has a way of chipping away, often unconsciously, at one’s sense of self worth.

What is being done for the victims of religious discrimination? In Hyderabad, Fr Rob McCullough brought me over to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, home of a school of midwifery. The Columbans and their benefactors and friends as well as the Irish Government and Australian Overseas Aid have helped secure various pieces of equipment for the hospital over the years.

Mr. Francis, the hospital administrator, Sisters Miriam, head of the school of midwifery and her fellow Holy Family Sister,  Victorine, escorted me and answered my questions about the educational program  for midwives and the healthcare problems the people face. The population has extremely high rates of hepatitis B, C, and diabetes.

The midwifery school provides a way for Catholic young women who have completed high school to get a professional, highly valued skill in a year and a half that will help them and their communities. Sister Miriam, a Sri Lankan missionary who herself trained in England, is proud not only of the high percentage of her students who pass, but also of how well her graduates do on the government’s licensing test.

Is there a similar path out of poverty and discrimination for young Catholic boys who also tend to be from low caste backgrounds? To answer that question, Fr McCulloch brought me around to the “School of Excellence” that he set up with help from Columban benefactors. The regular school day at most schools ends about 1:30 PM, but the boys who have been admitted to this program come to a centre, the “School of Excellence” where they are given intensive help in English, Urdu, and mathematics, as well as classes in religion and art. According to the boys and their parents, the result has been an amazing  transformation. Not only have their grades improved, but they have become a positive presence in their homes. Senior high schools are now anxious to recruit these students; the hope is that many of them will secure university scholarships and be on their way toward an entirely different life.

The school also has basic literacy classes for boys who have dropped out of school and are already working as street sweepers.

Excelling at their studies or in professional life is the only way these bright young people will be able to gain acceptance by the larger society. It is a way of proving themselves. If the mainstream Muslim culture of Pakistan does not accept them because of discriminatory attitudes, they can still show their worthiness by excelling in their studies, becoming professors or scientists and other professionals that are held in high regard by the community. But it still is a bitter pill to swallow that they have to work so much harder to be treated equally.

Fr John Burger SSC is currently on the General Council of the Columban Fathers.

Read more reflection articles by Fr John Burger