Question

The Church Needs To Shed Its Collective False Ego

QUESTION: The Church is seen as an institution but the real call of the Church is to be the sacrament of Christ. Why does it fail? – Fr Thomas John ANSWER: Jacob Parappally MSFS The institutional visibility of the Church is its burden and its grace. It is a burden and even a curse when […]

THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE CHURCH: FROM RITUALS TO ETHICS

Saji Mathew Kanayankal CST QUESTION: Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Reality is the sacrament of command.” He is relating liturgy to ethics, or liturgy to politics. Where sacramental acts which are liturgical must be applied or made relevant to ethical or political life every day. Bonhoeffer was facing a situation of Nazism and totalitarian authority. Reality presents the […]

Enslaving Obedience, Liberating Obedience

QUESTION: Is obedience the psychological mechanism that links individual action to political purpose? Hannah Arendt in Eichmann in Jerusalem says “There is no such thing as obedience in political and moral matters.” – Biju Thomas ANSWER: Jacob Parappally MSFS Obedience can be liberating or enslaving. When one glorifies the virtue of obedience, a question must be raised, […]

A TIME OF PERSECUTION IN INDIA?

QUESTION: It was reported that the attacks against Christians in India have drastically increased last year. What would be its reason and as Christians what should be our response? -Mary Sacria ANSWER: Saji Mathew Kanayankal CST Indian Christians, the second-largest Christian population in Asia, has to undergo more than 450 attacks in a year! Christianity, […]

In the Beginning Was the Word

QUESTION: “In the beginning was the Word” is the starting verse of John’s Gospel. What is the Christian significance of the priory of the Word in the life of Christians? – Sebastian K.T. ANSWER: Jacob Parappally MSFS Human words are powerful. They can build or destroy. They can bring peace and reconciliation but also wars and violence. […]

WITNESSING INCARNATION IN A COUNTRY OF DIVERSITIES

QUESTION: John Joseph While seeing various kinds of preparations for Christmas and the ‘mania of celebrations’ in the Church I feel Christ is somewhere away from Christmas. What is its authentic meaning and how can it be relevant in present India? ANSWER: Saji Mathew Kanayankal CST A search for the authentic meaning of Christmas in contemporary India […]

Cunning Rationality Oppresses and Exploits the Children of Light

QUESTION: “For the sons of this world are shrewder in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light (Luke 16:8). Is Jesus recommending cunning rationality to the sons of light? How do you evaluate the cunning rationality to which the poor and the ordinary are subjected to? Are we simply victims of the […]

THE SANITY OF LANGUAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE OTHER

QUESTION: Nowadays we see that the language we use in our public sphere, whether it is by political leaders or religious leaders, seems to be arrogant, offensive and annoying. Is it because of our negligence of the other? Do we have a way out? – Joseph Joy ANSWER: Saji Mathew Kanayankal CST Your quest concerning the use of […]

Father Sahaya Thatheus Appointed Bishop of Simla- Chandigarh

Bishop Ignatius Mascarenhas Retires After 16 Years of Episcopal Ministry