The Altar and the Forgotten Values

• Anita Cheria reflects on the contrast between Jesus Christ’s humility and the Church’s display of power, questioning whether today’s religious institutions remain true to Christ’s example.
• The poem critiques how patriarchal control and clerical privilege often distort the message of justice, inclusion, and compassion that it aspires to uphold.
• It calls for a faith rooted in honestly following Christ’s spirit that dismantles hierarchy, embraces equality, and restores the Church’s moral accountability.

Author: Anita Cheria
Disclaimer: This piece was originally published on Open Space Chatroom.

When I look up to Christ on the Cross,
I sense him look back with soft eyes.
Hanging on nails, feeling much pain, 
Wrapped in a simple blood stained loincloth.

His posture and presence, 
Spreads an ambience of ‘giving all’, 
Even without a sermon, I could sense,
He can empathise with struggles of daily life,
And what it means to stand up for truth, 
The loneliness, tears and isolation of justice seekers.

And as I looked down, below stood cloistered in gold,
A priest, celebrating the life of Jesus, in rituals.
In an attire so much in contrast, it was difficult to ignore,
With an expression that reflected patriarchal control.
His postures reflect privilege and enormous power.

Today, as we talk about synod and Synodality,
It is not just an event for people who seek respect and inclusion,
It is their prayer and hope to be understood as God’s creation.
The last year has seen several conversations and articulations,
But one feels a nagging pain, of something fundamental missing
And then it dawns, we cannot make headway,
If there is no fidelity to Christ.

We all heard words about the inclusion of Women, 
Of LGBTQ rights, and about walking together.
We heard of a vocabulary that reflected progress, 
Progress in acknowledging biases, and 
An intent to set it right, as a community united in Christ.
But when it was time to write in the rights, 
The words went missing, and the rights out of sight! 

Priests in my home state, God’s own country,
Draw from a heritage of different rites,
Some priests, during a homily, turn to the altar, 
While others turn around facing people,
What I find common is that both, often,
Practice looking down at the people around.
For me, that must be surely bothering Christ.

We are talking about fostering a culture of justice,
But with no intent to dismantle patriarchy or power.

If we do not include instruments of accountability,
How truly can we nurture an attitude of equality?
Why would anyone speak up, if it’s only to be silenced.

If we do not include instruments of accountability,
How truly can we nurture an attitude of equality?
Why would anyone speak up, if it’s only to be silenced.

The patriarchal priest is secure, lives on a pedestal untouched,
‘The sacraments are mine to administer’, he says, 
And without the sacraments, religious and laity alike,
Are taught and convinced that they have no access to Christ.

This is not to say there are no good priests or community,
But the system and structure through which we interact,
Does not reflect the values of Christ.

The priestly power, the prestige, and clericalism,
For me, it represents infidelity to Christ.

Editor’s Note

Anita’s poem makes you pause to feel what faith is meant to be. Her words draw a sharp contrast between Jesus Christ who gave everything in love and the institutions that sometimes stand far from that spirit. The poem speaks gently, yet it carries the weight of truth. It asks for a faith that feels more human and more open.

At Faith Futures Collective, we read this as a call to remember the spirit of compassion and equity that lies at the centre of every faith. This poem is part of the conversation we hope to keep alive. It reminds us that when power shapes faith, many voices, especially those of women and marginalised communities, are left unheard. Through reflections like Anita’s, we hope to make space for these voices to rise, to question with empathy, and to rebuild meaning through care, equality, and shared strength.