Bombay Archbishop Sees Challenge in Dominus Jesus

BOMBAY ARCHBISHOP SEES CHALLENGE IN DOMINUS JESUS

VATICAN, Oct. 10, 00 (CWNews.com) - Archbishop Ivan Dias of Bombay has argued that the Vatican document Dominus Jesus represents a challenge for the bishops of India, in their relations with other faiths and even with the country's Catholic theologians.

Speaking in Rome on October 10, at a conference on the role of bishops, Archbishop Dias said, "As far as non-Christians are concerned, we have the right to reaffirm our identity, and the others are free to accept it or not."

The Bombay prelate underlined his point by saying, "I speak as an Indian, living in a country were we confront these problems every day." Most Vatican observers have agreed that the message of Dominus Jesus was aimed especially at Asian countries-- India in particular-- where some theologians have attempted to downplay the unique role of the Catholic Church in order to minimize conflicts with other religions.

Archbishop Dias said that the Indian theologians who are unable to accept Dominus Jesus are a source-- "for the bishops of India, not just the ones in Rome." Those theologians have a great deal of influence, he pointed out, since they teach in seminaries and engage in ecumenical dialogue. The problems addressed in Dominus Jesus, therefore, represent "a challenge to which the Indian bishops must respond."

CWN - Catholic World News