“Church has a Major Role in India,” says Abp. Machado

Bangalore, 4 July 2024: The Church has a major role in making India more peaceful and harmonious, says Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore. The prelate was inaugurating the theologians' colloquium at NBCLC, Bangalore, on July 4, 2024.

“We are the salt and light of India, and we have the responsibility and duty towards our nation to make our country more harmonious based on the constitutional values,” said Abp. Machado.

The inaugural meeting was presided over by Abp. Mar Joseph Pamplany of Thalasseri. Fr. Thomas Vadakel, Secretary of the CBCI Office for Theology and Doctrine, extended a warm welcome to the participants, and Fr. John Baptist, the Director of NBCLC, offered felicitations to the gathering.

"The Role of the Church in the Current Context of India" is the theme of the colloquium, organized by the CBCI Office for Doctrine and attended by over 50 theologians, including 8 bishops.

The resource persons included Bishop Thomas Dabre, Bishop Emeritus of Poona; Bishop Lawrence Pius of Dharmapuri; Bishop James Raphael Anaparambil of Alleppey; Bp. Peter Abir of Sultanpet; Bp. Gerald John Mathias of Lucknow; Dr. Yesu Karunanidhi, Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Bible; Dr. Christopher Vimalraj, Associate Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI; Dr. Thomas Kuriacose S.J., Dean Emeritus of the Faculty of Theology at JD Pune; Dr. Annie Kunnath, Professor at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi; Dr. Martin Sankoorickal, Professor at the Institute of Philosophy, Pontifical Oriental Institute of Religious Studies, Kottayam; Dr. Santhosh S. Cheruvallil, Member the Indian Theologians Forum; Dr. Paulachan Kochappilly CMI, Professor at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram; Dr. Roy Lazar A., Professor at Madras University, Chennai; Dr. Raj Irudaya, S.J., Professor at the Jesuit Formation Centre for Theology, Chennai; Adv. Roy Joseph Kaduppil of the Pontifical Oriental Institute of Religious Studies, Vadavathoor; Dr. Bilju Vazhappally, Professor at Marymatha Major Seminary, Trichur; Dr. A. Maria Arul Raja S.J., Director of IDCR, Loyola College, Chennai; and Dr. Sr. Bincy Therese CMC of Jnanodaya Institute of Theology, Bangalore.

The colloquium promises a rich and insightful exploration of the multifaceted role the Church plays in contemporary Indian society. Through a series of thought-provoking presentations and discussions, participants will delve into a wide range of pressing issues, including:

“Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together”; “Whither Synodality in India? Acceptance of and Resistance towards being a Synodal Church in India”; “The Indian Church amidst the Religions: Challenges and Opportunities”; “Interconnections between the Post-Truth Politics and Strategies of Political Hindutva”; “Christian Dharma and the Challenging Indian Scenario”; and “The Church's Role in the National Democratic-Electoral Process: Inspiration from Biblical Prophets”; and “Tracing Spiritual and Theological Foundations of the Indian Constitution" and "Dignitatas Infinita: A Creative Understanding.”

The members of the colloquium also felicitated Abp. Elias Gonsalves of Nagpur on his birthday, which falls on July 4. Bp. Gerald John Mathias of Lucknow conveyed the participants' felicitations.

By Joicy Pinto