A leading nun has called for women Religious to play a greater role in Church and society. Holy Spirit Sister Helen Saldanha, the leader of Streevani, or the voice of women, has organized lawyer nuns as a forum, and encouraged them to work for the victims of the 2008 anti-Christian violence in the Kandhamal district of Orissa.
Her organization, formed in 1982, runs several other programs for women.
It also researches issues concerning women to help them in their multiple roles in the family, workplace, community and the Church.
Here, Sister Saldhana speaks on wide-ranging issues including gender justice and ways to seek more participation in the Church:
SISTER HELEN SALDANHA: Kandhamal is a very big issue. Several Religious sisters have been working there, following the violence. We conducted our second workshop on ways to help riot victims in 2009. The idea of a forum of Religious lawyers was formed there.
Our lawyers are helping riot victims file cases. We went through the cases, and found victims were failing to get justice because they do not have proper legal guidance. We are helping to remedy the situation by providing them all with legal help.
SIC: CTHAS