Vatican representatives describe Catholic presence in India as both “growing” and “small”
Like many, if not most, diplomatic states, the Vatican may be tailoring its message to suit its audience, cables accessed by The Hindu through WikiLeaks show.
In 2002, a Vatican representative told a U.S. diplomat that Catholicism in India was growing. But in 2006, a statement, written in response to a slew of anti-conversion laws in different Indian States and released on an official Church website in India, argued that the Catholic community in India was small and not conversion-oriented.
In a July 24, 2002 meeting, Archbishop Antonio Veglio, Secretary of the Congregation for Eastern Churches, told the U.S. Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, George Frowick, that of the 22 non-Roman Christian Rites in his charge, the vast majority faced threats to their stability. Only two — the Greek Rite Church in Ukraine and Keralite Catholic churches in India — appeared to be secure, according to an account of what the Archbishop said, as provided in the cable (3387: confidential, dated July 26, 2002).
“The Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches are reputed to have a 2,000-year presence in Southern India,” the cable states. According to Archbishop Veglio, these churches originated “from the visit of Saint Tomas the Apostle.”
Unlike their counterparts in “the Middle East,” “Ethiopia/Eritrea,” and “formerly communist Europe” excluding the Greek Rite Church in Ukraine, “the Indian Eastern Catholic Churches centered on the state of Kerala” are described in the cable as ‘“lively' and ‘growing'.”
Characterised as “islands of growth,” the Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Eastern Rite Churches were described by Archbishop Veglio as “vigorous and growing, despite hindrances.” The hindrances included anti-conversion bills such as those backed by the Hindu nationalist political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the cable says.
Monsignor Francis Chullikatt, “a Kerala native heading off to become the papal nuncio in Baghdad,” termed such legislation “poorly conceived.” He emphasised “the need to preserve religious freedom in India,” “noting at the same time that the Catholic Church should be distinguished from various evangelical groups in India.” He claimed that such groups did not “respect traditional Indian culture in the way the Church does” (65975: confidential, dated May 31, 2006).
Anti-conversion bills
Cardinal Ivan Dias wrote protesting against a rash of anti-conversion bills being introduced in Indian States. His statement, of May 23, 2006, was released on the official website of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India.
Just three days earlier, on May 20, Cardinal Dias was appointed to “a senior position in Rome,” to serve as the “head of the Congregation for Evangelization,” according to the cable.
Monsignor Bernardito Auza, point man for South Asia in the Holy See's Secretariat of State, said that Cardinal Dias's appointment “coincided” with the anti-conversion excitement in India “purely by accident,” the cable says.
The statement was written on Cardinal Dias's “own initiative,” and not “coordinated with Rome,” according to Monsignor Auza, the cable says. However, it “accurately reflected the Vatican's views.”
“Christians are responsible for large shares of primary education, community health care, and literacy programs throughout India,” Cardinal Dias wrote, according to the cable. “A great many Indians of all faiths value and patronize these highly-regarded Catholic institutions, but are never asked to convert.”
“No forced conversion by the Catholic Church in India has ever been documented, despite various allegations,” the cable quotes Cardinal Dias as saying in his statement. Thus, “Christians in India are only 2.3 percent of the total population, and of these 1.8 percent are Catholics,” Cardinal Dias claimed, according to the cable.
“After two millenia the Indian Christian community remains small,” the cable quotes Cardinal Dias's statement as saying, contrasting with Archbishop Veglio's earlier declarations of growth.
“These churches are thriving even as Christians suffer persecution in Hindu-Nationalist parts of India,” Archbishop Veglio told Mr. Frowick in 2002 (3387: confidential, dated July 26, 2002).
Commenting on the situation, U.S. State Department Charge d'Affaires Christopher Sandrolini and U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See L. Francis Rooney III, said that “the Church — both in Rome and elsewhere — will increasingly shed its traditional preference for quiet diplomacy when it comes to issues it deems vital for its own survival, particularly religious freedom” (65975: confidential, dated May 31, 2006).
According to the cable, Mr. Sandrolini and Mr. Rooney “judge that the Holy See and the Church in India and elsewhere will not back down on issues it sees as fundamental to religious freedom, and to its security and survival.”
(This article is a part of the series "The India Cables" based on the US diplomatic cables accessed by The Hindu via Wikileaks.)
Keywords: cable3387, cable65975, The India Cables, cablegate, WikiLeaks, U.S. embassy cables, Catholic Church, Anti-conversion bills, the Vatican
The Syro Malabar Catholic church has an archdiocese in Kalyan in Maharashtra that does not mean the diocese caters to converts but outstation Nasranis. One embraces the Syrian(eastern) rite only by virtue of ones birth. Conversions are allowed only in rare instances like where the a non nasrani woman is married into a nasrani family. Contrary to popular beliefs caste hierarchy is very much prevalent in the catholic church in kerala. Till recently new converts (Latin Catholics), Dalit christians were not allowed in Syro Malabar Churches.
Philip,:You are wrong. You can convert to both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The Malankara Syrian Catholic Church even has a diocese in Tamil Nadu of all converts, including the bishop. 'Syrian'; in Syrian Christian refers not to caste, but liturgical historical Tradition (also known as a Rite). Just as Latin/Roman Catholics do not have to be originating from the City of Rome and speak Latin as their native tongue, neither do members of the Syrian Churches. And people convert to these Churches all the time!
I had all my school and collegiate education at Roman Catholic instititutions, St.Agnes Convent for the first three years, at St. Aloysius, Mangalore, a Jesuit school and College and Loyola College, Madras. In spite of their having a 75% majority, the Roman Catholic students and the rest of the students had elected me as the Speaker of the School 6th Form Parliament unanimously. I had many Jesuit fathers and Brothers, both Indian and European who were great friends and inspiring Teachers but never did we hear of the rabid accusations the Roman Catholic clergy faces here in the U.S. and in Europe. Most of the priests believed that good Moral Instructions was best rather than forced conversions and that Policy helped most of us Hindus to voluntarily participate in prayers and Catechism classes. I,a devout follower of Sanathana Dharma, at 74, I still remember Hymns, Psalms and Christ's admonitins to his followers and stories. Leaks and no leaks, accusing the Roman Catholic church of forced conversion is wrong.
The Secretary's observation is nothing short of retarded. The reason why the Syro Malabar and Syro Malankara churches are secure is because the conversion activity happening in these churches are ZILCH. One is Syrian Christian by virtue of his birth and not by conversion. Hence one does not understand the logic in Monsg. Chullikatt's logic when he says that the church is growing.
It's true that Catholic churches only contributed to India and never forced or even mention conversions. They run hospitals, schools. Mother theresa {who started her work infact in a temple}.It's to be noted by all Indians that those evangelical {pro-american} tiny 2 to 10 member groups have started in the early 90's this aggressive way, American style{and funded} preaching of the bible,disrespecting 3000+ years of Indian traditions.
Please Email the Editor