By Eduardo Faleiro
lokseva...@gmail.com
An eminent Goan celebrated his 100th birth anniversary on
September 17, 2014. Lambert Mascarenhas edited in Mumbai the
*Goan Tribune*, a fortnightly dedicated to the cause of Goan
Liberation. During a visit to Goa he was arrested and jailed
by the colonial Government. He was then expelled from Goa.
After Liberation he became the Editor of the *Navhind Times*
and later founded and edited *Goa Today*. He has authored
several books including the classic novel *Sorrowing Lies my
Land*. Prof. Francisco Correia Afonso whilst reviewing it
in 1962 said, "This beautiful book produced by Lambert
Mascarenhas in a land then foreign, during the period of his
exile, has now reached Goa along with the Indian troops that
brought us freedom". Lambert Mascarenhas is a recipient of
several awards including the Laxmidas Borkar Memorial Award
for Journalism and Goa’s highest civilian award, the Gomant Vibushan.
One of the subjects Lambert Mascarenhas dealt with was the
need to restructure Goan Christian life. In an article,
published in the Saligao Seminary Souvenir of 2003, he wrote:
"The Western bias of Goan Christianity has now to be
eradicated, the proclivity that has bestowed on the people a
sense of superiority and unindianess... This sense is
generated by the erroneous concept of 'civilization' which
according to them is represented by Christianity: knife and
fork at the table, frock-hat and suits and the consumption of
liquor.... The Church in Goa must now act to dilute the
westernization of its flock. As far as possible, Goan
Christians must not appear different from the Hindus of Goa."
The views of Lambert Mascarenhas find resonance in
the stated position of the Catholic Church on
inculturation. Inculturation is the process by
which a particular Church expresses its faith
through the local culture.
In India the purpose is to make the Church authentically
Indian and genuinely Christian. The Federation of Asian
Bishops Conferences (FABC) is the most influential body in
the Asian Church. It is a transnational episcopal structure
that brings together Bishops Conferences of 18 Asian
countries including India and has associate members from 10
other countries. Thus, 28 Asian countries are represented at
the FABC.
An FABC statement made more than three decades ago expresses
their insight: "The decisive new phenomenon for Christianity
in Asia will be the emergence of genuine Christian
communities -- Asian in their way of thinking, praying and
living".
Reflecting on the question of inculturation, the Catholic
Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) at its general meeting in
Kolkata in 1974 solemnly declared: "The Church in India must
realize her genuine Indian identity and rid herself of the
slur of being foreign which clings to her because of leaning
too heavily on foreign support and the style adopted by some
of the Christian communities. The Church will realize her
Indian identity by adapting herself to the conditions
prevailing in the country and developing an indigenous
theology."
In 1991, the FABC Theological Consultation stated: "As a
social institution the Church is perceived as a foreign body
in its colonial origins whilst other world religions are not.
The lingering colonial image survives. The Church is even
sometimes seen as an obstacle or threat to national
integration and religious identity... The Church remains
foreign in its lifestyle, in its institutional structure, in
its worship, in its western trained leadership and in its
theology. Christian rituals often remain formal, neither
spontaneous nor particularly Asian."
At the Asian Synod of 1998, the Asian Bishops called for
"divesting the Western image of the Church in the liturgy,
style of life, celebrations and trying to overcome the
present image of a powerful, affluent and domineering
institution".
Inculturation was the basic nature of Indian Christianity
long before the West arrived here. Christianity was
introduced in India around AD 52. This is when Thomas, the
Apostle, is believed to have come to Malankara in Kerala.
Thomas established a Church which was culturally Indian in
every way. Raimon Panikkar, renowned Spanish Roman Catholic
priest and professor at the University of Madrid and at the
Harvard Divinity School called for an advaitic Christianity
in India. "Christianity ought to become one more Indian sect
such as Jainism and Sikhism seeking union with God through
Jesus and yet with an undisturbed fidelity to the culture and
lifestyle of the land. Much of the West has already
understood the value of Indian spirituality. It won't be
long before Indian Christians do likewise and take back their
own heritage with pleasure and gratitude".
Most Goan theologians concur on the need for inculturation.
Rev. Vasco do Rego, a pioneer of inculturation in Goa notes
"Jesus was born a Jew and lived fully the socio cultural
Jewish life. He never sought conversion of anybody to
another 'new religion', to 'His' religion. He called for a
new manner of living, a new Way. The new Way of living which
Jesus proclaimed opposed injustice, discrimination,
marginalization and appealed for an authentic human
brotherhood cutting across race and religion. As
Christianity spread, diversity of local Churches was an
essential part of the Christian vision".
Rev. Desmond de Souza, former Executive Secretary of the
Human Development office at the FABC observes, "Roman
Catholicism has remained European. The Catholic faith has,
by and large, not been allowed to inculturate within the
local milieu and so both the faith and the institutions of
the Church have remained foreign, an European transplant in a
non-European ethos".
A 12 Point Plan for adapting the liturgy with
elements of Indian worship was recommended by the
CBCI and approved in 1969. The 12 Point Plan
suggested using certain postures during liturgy
such as 'aarti' as a form of welcome or worship,
'anjali hasta', hands folded in prayer,
incorporating different devices such as oil lamps
as well as different gestures such as touching
objects to one's forehead instead of kissing them,
removing footwear whilst entering a sacred place --
a more Indian way in the Christian worship and life.
This 12 Point programme has not been implemented in most
parts of India. Msgr. Felix Machado, former Under Secretary
in the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, did
point out that very few Bishops have promoted implementation
of the process of inculturation. Fewer still, he says, have
educated themselves, their priests and lay people to
understand and accept the Twelve Points on inculturation.
In villages of Goa, with hundred percent Konkani speaking
population, some masses and other religious services are
conducted in English. Whilst in all schools including
Diocesan schools Konkani is taught in the devanagri script,
the written material circulated in the Church is only in the
romi script. It should be both in the Fomi script, for the
older generation, and in Devanagri.
The National Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre
(NBCLC) was founded in 1967 to promote the renewal of the
Church in the Indian context. It plans to hold a seminar in
Bangalore next year, in March or early April, to advance the
cause of inculturation. Inculturation of the Catholic Church
is overdue and it may not be delayed any further.
--
The writer is a former Union Minister.
