Fr Vincent Shekhar Urges Openness and Dilogue at CCBI National Assembly

Bengaluru, May 1, 2026: At the National Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, Fr Vincent Shekhar, a Jesuit, delivered a compelling talk on interreligious dialogue, framing it as a call for “openness through inner dialogue.”

Speaking to bishops, clergy, and lay leaders, Fr Shekhar outlined the spectrum of Christian attitudes toward other faiths. These range from viewing other religions as “false paths,” to recognizing that they “contain truth,” to affirming them as “equally valid ways to the same truth,” or even as expressions of “different but equally valid truths.” Ultimately, he said, “Each religion expresses an important part of the truth. We are journeying with others.”

Drawing from Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti, he invited the Church to “write a new page of history with hope” by learning from the past and forging ahead in mutual understanding. He cautioned that fundamentalism exists in all communities and must be addressed through sustained engagement, not isolation.

Fr Shekhar also referenced the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom’s 2025 report, which listed India as a “Country of Particular Concern.” In that context, he stressed, “We need to have more dialogue with them—even those who oppose us.”

The session closed with a personal testimony from MD Thomas, who described interreligious dialogue as an ongoing journey of “engaging with one another” with humility and trust.

The talk resonated as both a theological reflection and a pastoral imperative for the Church in India today: to meet others not with fear, but with the openness that begins in one’s own heart.

By Catholic Connect Reporter