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Commenting on planned dialogue with Hindus, Orthodox Bishop Geevarghese mar Coorilos, who was unanimously chosen as NCCI president during the executive meeting, told ENI: "When people are confused or there is misunderstanding, it is our duty to clear it and be courageous enough [to enter into dialogue]."

As NCCI president Bishop Coorilos succeeds Bishop Vinod Peter, who died in a car accident in December.

Bishop of the diocese of Bombay for the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the new NCCI president said that he had briefed Catholic Archbishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi, who is vice president of the CBCI, on the NCM's proposal.

"Both the NCCI and the CBCI will discuss the proposal and finalize our response," Bishop Coorilos said.

Archbishop Concessao told ENI that the Catholic Church was open to the plan for dialogue, which would be discussed by the CBCI's standing committee after Easter.

Asked by ENI whether dialogue was possible given current tensions between Christians and Hindus, Bishop Coorilos said: "When any dialogue starts, there may not be a favorable atmosphere at all. But, we have to take the risk, and take it as a challenge."

Ironically, the NCCI is based in Nagpur in central India which is also home to the national headquarters of one of the RSS, one of the most controversial Hindu groups.

At the recent release in Nagpur of a book criticizing Christian activities in India, the head of the RSS, K. S. Sudarshan, repeated his call for the "Indianization" of all churches—severing all links with foreign church bodies and foreign funding agencies and setting up a federation combining all of India's churches.

Claiming that all Catholic Church property was "Vatican property, governed by canon laws outside the purview of the Indian laws," Sudarshan said that if a federation of churches were set up, it could take control of all such property and stop all foreign influence.

Reacting to the RSS chief's suggestions, Archbishop Concessao told ENI: "We are not political subjects of the Vatican, and the church in India is not a province of Rome. I am not sure whether they are speaking out of ignorance or deliberately distorting facts for propaganda."

If the proposed dialogue would help remove "such misunderstandings," Archbishop Concessao said, "we will be happy." But he admitted that "there is an element of risk [in holding dialogue]. Our only concern is that the dialogue is not misused as an opportunity for cheap publicity."

He added that while churches were ready to take part in dialogue, "we do not consider these [Hindu fundamentalist] groups as representatives of the wider Hindu community. Maybe, we need dialogue at different levels."

Copyright © 2001 ENI.

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In Orissa, You Must Ask the Government If You Want to Change Religion | Christian church leaders say they're trying to ignore the controversial law, but police aren't doing the same. (Mar. 12, 2001)

New Delhi Conference Condemns 'Immense Suffering' in Caste System | National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights plans to appeal to United Nations. (Mar. 9, 2001)

Weblog: Take Up Arms Against Missionaries, Says Hindu Leader | Clouds darkening over India (Mar. 6, 2001)

Churches Angry that Indian Census Ignores 14 Million Christian Dalits | Only Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist members of "untouchable" caste being counted. (Mar. 2, 2001)

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India's Christians Face Continued Threats | We must preach what we believe in spite of Hindu pressure, says Operation Mobilization India leader. (Feb. 15, 2001)

India's Quake Survivors Need Counseling | Earthquake survivors are desperate for more than material aid, Indian bishop warns. (Feb. 9, 2001)

Quake Rocks Hindu Hotbed | Agencies appeal for funds to aid victims. (Feb. 8, 2001)

Politician Who Saw God's Hand in Gujarat Quake Forced to Resign | Civil aviation minister had told Christians that quake was God's judgment against persecution of Christians. (Feb. 5, 2001)

Militant Hindus Assault Christians | Persecution of religious minorities stirs Christian outrage against government inaction. (Jan. 31, 2001)

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April (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45