Chennai: A two-day conference to discuss the prevalence of caste system among Christian communities of the country, would be held from November five in Madurai.

The conference, "The Challenge of Caste System in Christianity", was being organised by a group of forward-thinking priests and nuns of the Catholic Church in Tamil Nadu.

The organisers told reporters here today that despite being an egalitarian religion, Christianity in India had caste practices like untouchability and discrimination against Dalit Christians.

Fr. X D Selvaraj, a Catholic priest, said that rights of many Christians were being deprived in the name of caste.

"Unfortunately, it is present even in the Church and dioceses," he said adding the conference will discuss ways and means to eradicate casteism. The conference, held at Fathimah College in Madurai, was expected to be participated by bishops, priests, nuns and laymen from across the state, Fr Selvaraj said.

Source : PTI