Reconceptualizing Church and Society

Reconceptualizing Church and Society: A Historical Inquiry into the 1969 All India Seminar on ‘The Church in India Today’ and the Reception of Vatican II in India

Team
Sinoj Jose Mathew
Dries Bosschaert (supervisor)

Project duration
2024-2028

Funding Body
The Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Germany

Research topics
Reception of Vatican II in India
Post-Vatican II Theological Shifts in India

Approaches:
Archival research
Textual analysis

The 1969 “All India Seminar on the Church in India Today” was a pivotal event in the reception of Vatican II, drawing around 600 participants, including bishops, clergy, religious, laity, theologians, and international delegates. The seminar aimed to critically engage with Vatican II’s teachings, exploring their relevance to India’s socio-political, economic, and religious contexts. It marked a transformative shift in the Church’s self-understanding and mission, addressing issues such as poverty, social justice, labour rights, and political responsibility, while empowering the laity and integrating Catholic social teachings with India’s developmental needs. This PhD research provides a historical analysis of the seminar and its influence on Indian Catholicism from 1969 to 1985, marking the first phase of Vatican II’s reception. It examines the theological foundations of the seminar, the shifts in ecclesial thought and practice, and its impact on the Church’s role in India’s socio-political landscape. By analysing seminar documents, such as proceedings, Orientation Papers, and Workshop Handbooks, as well as relevant archival records, this study explores how the seminar interpreted and applied Vatican II’s vision, particularly the Council’s directive to engage with the world. The research also investigates the influence of the seminar on Church-led movements like the Kerala Labour Movement and Kerala Catholic Youth Movement. Ultimately, this project aims to contribute to scholarly discourse on Vatican II’s impact in non-Western contexts and its role in shaping the evolving identity of the Indian Catholic Church.