Bp Thomas Dabre

The task is to proclaim that Jesus is the only saviour, whilst showing respect and appreciation for other religions. Correcting and purifying cultures must be done with “prudence and discretion,” without using “arrogant and aggressive methods.” The focus is on helping small basic ecclesial communities to mature in faith and life. The bishop of Poona laid out plans at the Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India of the Latin rite.

Chennai (AsiaNews) – In his opening address to the Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) of the Latin rite, which was held in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) from 7 to 14 January, Mgr Thomas Dabre, bishop of Poona, mentioned some of the challenges that the Church faces, most notably those of proclaiming Jesus Christ as man’s only saviour whilst appreciating the country’s other religions, correcting and integrating cultural mismatches whilst being profoundly “nationalist” (i.e. patriotic), addressing the estrangement of so many Catholics from their communities through less red tape and legalism in the life of the Church, communicating the truths of faith in ways other than in the Greco-Roman tradition, and promoting popular piety and small communities of ecclesial life to restore vigour to the life of faith.

One of the solutions suggested is the idea of not being “negative to other religions and adopt arrogant and aggressive methods for evangelization,” thus setting ourselves apart from what Evangelical communities do. At the same time, the Church needs to assert the uniqueness of salvation in Christ whilst recognising the work of the Holy Spirit in other religions. While working to correct and purify cultures (in favour, for example, of the dignity of women and Dalits), this process requires a lot of “prudence and discretion,” as well as a show of one’s “nationalism” (to oppose Hindu fundamentalists who brand Christians as followers of a “foreign” god).

For Msgr Dabre, “our evangelization can in no way be seen as a threat to Indian cultures and Indian heritage.” Even in the midst of “opposition, attacks and rejection” and “widespread materialism, indifference to spirituality, agnosticism, atheism and secularism,” evangelization must always take place “in joy.” Here are broad excerpts of his address.

New Culture and Changed situation
Exponential growth of science and technology, ameliorating conditions of life, enhancing health and life-span are in truth God’s blessings through human inventiveness, skills and imagination. However, these have mistakenly led a growing number of people to pride and people live as though man can organize his life by his own resources without dependence on God or even denying his existence. This also has fostered a widespread materialism, indifference to spirituality, agnosticism, atheism and secularism.

Postmodernism which is self-referential relativism and subjectivism, rejects objective, universal and absolute truths.

The situation within the Church too has reached a critical point: low attendance at worship and liturgy, failures of some of the Church ministers to live up to their commitment, lack of pastoral accompaniment, divisions, failure to adapt to the new cultures and situations and Church, etc.

All this calls for new strategies and approaches and perspectives in the process of evangelization. It would be superficial, simplistic and unrealistic to implement a pre-programmed pastoral ministry. This should be kept in mind by the religious and the clergy when they set out from the secure and receptive spirit of the house of formation.

The Church as a community of faith has her Doctrine, Law and Ethics which are all essential elements of Faith-life and Evangelization. We have, however, to distinguish between the essentials and the changeable, accretions of history, and time-conditioned human and social traditions.

Prohibition of Christian burial for suicides, even in the case of school-going children, stricter regime of fast and abstinence during Lent, 3-hour fast before Communion, universal use of Latin, restrictions on inter-religious marriage, practice of local culture, customs and traditions, especially since Vatican II many such things have been set aside or revised.

1. Many of the faithful are not able to understand and appreciate the traditional formulations of the doctrine. Certainly, the doctrine and the truth of faith are gifts of revelation for our salvation and we should appreciate their significance and riches. However, the defined expressions do not evoke expected response, emotion and experience among some believers on account of their inability to understand and interpret them correctly.

The present-day mind-set and thought-pattern are not Graeco-Roman which was operative when dogmas were formulated.

2. Over the years the Church Law has been revised. Certainly, Law does illuminate and enable a consistent and well-ordered way of Church life. However, a purely literal interpretation and strict application of the Law has not helped some of the faithful to correct their ways and to live a regular faith-life in the Community of faith.

3. In modern times the Church teaching on marriage, divorce, use of artificial means of birth-control, the primary purposes of marriage, euthanasia have been opposed or ignored even by the faithful without qualms of conscience.

Certainly, the Church teaching on morality has its intrinsic merit; it emphasizes the inviolable and transcendent dignity of the human person and seeks to protect the highest values of life. However, there is no reception on the part of some within the Church. Some of these concerns and problems are not addressed well enough in the pastoral ministry.

Transmission of the Gospel or evangelization needs renewal of the expressions and forms of the unchanging truths of the gospel and the deposit of faith. Because it is true that in our situation people do not properly understand and appreciate the orthodox formulations. EG invites us to a renewal of the presentation of the doctrine and not to present Church laws customs, laws, tra-ditions, practices etc. as being oppressive and burdensome. The faithful should be able to brea-the freely in the Church. So that everything becomes good news of joy, mercy, forgiveness free of legalism (Evangelii Gaudium 41-42).

Some cultural challenges
We must recognize that if part of our baptized people lack a sense of belonging to the Church, this is also due to certain structures and the occasionally unwelcoming atmosphere of some of our parishes and communities, or to a bureaucratic way of dealing with problems, be they simple or complex, in the lives of our people. In many places an administrative approach prevails over a pastoral approach, as does a concentration on administering the sacraments apart from other forms of evangelization. Evangelii Gaudium 63 calls for a thorough renewal of the Church at all levels and the concomitant restructuring to be in harmony with the spirit of the gospel, mercy, forgiveness, and free of legalism.

Uniqueness of Jesus Christ – Saviour of the world
The presentation of the “Uniqueness of Jesus Christ – Saviour of the world” is really a formidable challenge before the Church in India.

It is the absolute faith of the Church that Jesus Christ is the saviour of the world. By His death on the cross, He has brought God’s forgiveness and eternal life, i.e., complete redemption and salvation to all humanity without a single exception.

It is the faith of the Church that all salvation everywhere and at times, in all history, civilization and culture is all through the unique mediation of Jesus Christ.

“If I be lifted up, I will draw all to myself” (Jn 12:32).

“In Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Cor 5:19).

“God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim 2: 4-7).

But how to present and how to express the uniqueness of Jesus? How to make it intelligible and acceptable?

Hindus say all rivers will go to the ocean so also all people of different religions will go to God. Jainism and Buddhism affirm that one is one’s own saviour by one’s own effort. These views do need to be seriously considered as we affirm the vicarious role of Christ and His sacrifice.

Through my contact with the people of other religions and cultures I see that they are sincere, well- intentioned and deeply spiritual and believe in God from the depth of their hearts. When you genuinely love people and enter into their lives and strike bonds of love you realize that they too are on the path of God. God’s presence, power and the Holy Spirit can well be with them.

“The Second Vatican Council, in fact, has stated that: “the unique mediation of the Redeemer does not exclude, but rather gives rise to a manifold cooperation which is but a participation in this one source” (Dominus Iesus, 14, Lumen Gentium 62).

Vatican II has affirmed, “the Holy Spirit offers everyone the possibility of sharing in this Paschal Mystery in a manner known to God” (Gaudium et Spes 22). So let us not think that those of other religions are separated from the mystery of Jesus; they may well be united to Him, maybe more than us. So the proclamation of the uniqueness of Jesus should be done bearing this in mind.

The uniqueness of Jesus does not mean that the other religions cannot be channels or mediations of Christ’s salvation to their adherents.

“The Spirit’s presence and activity affect not only the individuals but also society and history, peoples, cultures and religions.

“The Second Vatican Council recalls that the Spirit is at work in the heart of every person, through the “seeds of the Word,” to be found in human initiatives including religious ones and in mankind’s efforts to attain truth, goodness and God Himself.

“The Spirit’s presence and activity affect not only the individuals but also society and history, peoples, cultures and religions. Indeed, the Spirit is at the origin of the noble ideals and undertakings which benefit humanity on its journey through history.” n.28: “every authentic prayer is prompted by the Holy Spirit, who is mysteriously present in every human heart” (Redemptoris Missio, 29).

We cannot be negative to other religions and adopt arrogant and aggressive methods for evangelization. This is not the approach of Jesus. “I have not come to abolish but to perfect” (Mt 5:17-19).

In his Areopagus speech St Paul spoke in terms of a common foundation among religions. “Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you” (Acts: 17:22-23).

Paul, affirmed One God as Creator who is near everyone; he recognized them as being religious and declared the faith in the risen Lord.

I have in my inter-religious programs, quoted simple things:

1) That the greatest commandment according to Jesus is: “to love man and fellowmen,” “love thy neighbour as thyself” (Mt 22:39).

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me” (Mt 25:40).

2) All men are equal. God has made man and women in His image and likeness.

“Father forgive them…” (Lk 23:34). The non-Christians have appreciated these words from the Gospel. Thus, the sharing of the Word of God with the non-Christians has been a great point of opportunity for evangelization.

Fr Joseph Vaz, Fr Constant Lievens and Mother Teresa, Sadhu Sundar Singh, the great Christian scholars like BrahmabandhavUpadhyay, and Rev. N.V. Tilak and others were a huge success in the mission of evangelization, for they identified themselves with the local culture. Through them we learn the importance of inculturation, practising the Word of God and sharing the joys and sorrows of those to be evangelized. Thus our evangelization can in no way be seen as a threat to Indian cultures and Indian heritage.

Our evangelization must be done in the light of our diverse situations and specially in harmony with the noble values of Indian religions and Indian cultures.

Pope Francis in his general payer intention for the month of December 2018 states, “That people, who are involved in the service and transmission of faith, may find, in their dialogue with culture, a language suited to the conditions of the present time.”

We should also be seen as authentic patriots and nationalists

Authentic nationalism should be a feature of people of all religions. Faith in Christ, loyalty to the Church and authentic nationalism go together. Authentic nationalism binds all citizens into unity with all their diversity of religions, cultures and ideologies.

The language of purification of cultures and religious practices in the process of Missio ad Gentes adopted in Church documents which per se is justified, should however be very carefully and prudently handled.

Certainly, all cultures must be illumined by the Word of God. Accordingly, things such as caste system, idolatry, multiplicity of Gods, the sacred cow, the ban on beef, Punar Janma (rebirth) etc., have to be reviewed and re-evaluated in the light of the Christian faith….