Theologians Worry Indian Church Deviating From Original Christian Mission

11 May 2008
[Permalink] Theologians Worry Indian Church Deviating From Original Christian Mission
ALUVA - Some theologians in India have expressed concern that the Church is deviating from its original Christian mission by neglecting the poor and needy in the country.

Such concerns and regrets were heard at the recent annual meeting of the Indian Theological Association.

Father M.K. George, an educator, presented a paper in which he regretted that Christian educational institutions are "increasingly focusing on cities (and) neglecting the village poor."

Of late the Church in India shows an interest in professional and higher education that demands higher investments and involvement, said the professor of a Jesuit college in Kerala state.

Church's Engagement in Civil Society: A New Way of Being Christian Today was the theme of the meeting held in Kerala at Aluva seminary. The 64 theologians who attended included five laypeople and seven nuns.

Father George says managing institutions for higher education "has become a lucrative business," and Christian educational institutions have joined "in the rat race and are now in the vicious circle of an exploitative structure."

According to him, the Church has concentrated its services in recent years on urban residents and neglected villagers despite several Church documents pointing out that more than 70 percent of "people in need of our help" are in villages.

The Jesuit priest pointed out that "globalization and market economy" have driven up the cost of education and health services, making even government services unaffordable and inaccessible to poor villagers.

"In a world where market forces and the state are equally oppressive ... the Church has to find a new way of being Christian in India today," Father George said, calling for a revaluation of the way the Church conducts its educational mission.

Another speaker, Jesuit theologian Father Michael Amaladoss, regretted that Christians do not actively engage in civil society and their presence in social issues is minimal.

The priest based in Chennai, capital of neighboring Tamil Nadu state, presented a paper titled Theological reflections of new way of being Christians in India today. The Church started as a movement of people who sold possessions and shared what they had, he said, but later it became institutionalized and the institution took over the movement.

Father Amaladoss noted "confusion among the Church ranks whether the Church community exists to celebrate sacraments or the sacraments are a symbolic celebration of its life in the world."

Stressing the need for more active participation in civil society, he said the "time has come when we should think of making the Church community again a social movement."

According to him, the clergy claim not only spiritual power but also economic, social and political power within and outside India's Christian community, which accounts for just 2.3 percent of the country's more than 1 billion people.

They should realize their God-given authority is to serve and not for domination, he continued, calling for more lay participation in the Church.

"Laypeople are not mere listeners. They have the right and a duty to participate in the discernment and planning as well as in the action. If they do, then we can look forward to a new series of social teachings that are more practical and oriented to action in civil society, Father Amaladoss said.

The theologian recalled the Church suggested some social changes that did not even work within the Church. "The bishops declared some years ago that the caste system was sinful, but they have not launched any credible movement to abolish it even within the Church," he regretted.

Redemptorist Father Thomas Kocherry, who has led a movement of fisher folk in India for the past three decades, told SMC News the discussions were "part of soul searching" and he found them "meaningful and encouraging."

"We have to bring new dynamics in society and understand different realities surrounding us," he added. As one suggestion, he said the Church "should sensitize the community about environmental degradation along with moral degeneration."