Introduction:-
Here is a paper I presented as an FABC theologian ( a member of the first Theological Advisory Committee of the FABC 1986-94) at a Meeting organised by the Office for Inter-religious Affairs of the FABC and the Roman Secretariat for Inter-religious Dialogue for the first time in Hua Hin, Bangkok under the Theme- Inter-religious Dialogue at a Turning Point. The Roman Delegation was led by Cardinal Arinze and Michael Fitzgerals (later Archbishop of Luxumberg). There were two papers presented for discussion from two of us from Asia. Father Amalorpavadas of India presented a paper on the Theology of Religions and I presented a paper On Inter-religious Dialogue. It was titles:- Inter-religious Dialogue at a Turning Point in Asia towards new Christologies and Ecclesiologies.
At the meeting attended by more than 30 asian theologians and the Vatican Delegation, the discussions were cordial. Roman Delegation promised to publish in their Bulletin, but did not. Instead they sent me 8 questions prepared by an Italian theologian Colombo, in Italian, through the Colombo Nuncio, to be answered by me. They were not happy about my Theo-centric Approach in Preference to a Christo-centric Approach, and also my suggesting new Christologies and Ecclesiologies in Asia.
I promptly answered them.
Later they also asked me to write an article on the subject of justifying missionary activity of the church to their magazine in Rome, published by the Congregation for Evangelisation of people. This request was made to clear their doubt about my not supporting the missionary activity of the church in preference to inter-religious dialogue with other religions. I wrote that too. Though humiliating, I fulfilled their requests and clarified my position. Thus I remained within the church without any excommunication!
In my meeting with the Cardinal Prefect of Propaganda Fide, in 1992 on the occasion of my silver jubilee of priesthood, though I went to thank the Congregation to thank for educating me at Prop. Fide and trusting me with various responsabilities, the Cardinal was eager to discuss my theological articles he had collected. I did discuss. Then I told him I cannot be rector of a major seminary and vicar generl of a diocese, when your eminence doubt my theology. He said no no you continue yor work for the church!
My paper was published in the East Asian Pastoral Review of the EAPI in Manila as well as in the Zeitschrift für Missions und Religions Wissenschaft ZMR, in 1989. I have only a printed Version and could not download it from the Computer, I am giving photocopies of my paper.
I consider my call for a theo-centric approach to Dialogue in Asia and the call for new Christologies and Ecclesiologies in Asia, are followed up by Asian theologians like Felix Wilfred and Aloy Peiris.
I myself was more engaged during the last two decades with a Liberation theology for political Engagement regarding Sri Lanka, and did not go further into the theme of Dialogue in Asia.
Here is a paper I presented as an FABC theologian ( a member of the first Theological Advisory Committee of the FABC 1986-94) at a Meeting organised by the Office for Inter-religious Affairs of the FABC and the Roman Secretariat for Inter-religious Dialogue for the first time in Hua Hin, Bangkok under the Theme- Inter-religious Dialogue at a Turning Point. The Roman Delegation was led by Cardinal Arinze and Michael Fitzgerals (later Archbishop of Luxumberg). There were two papers presented for discussion from two of us from Asia. Father Amalorpavadas of India presented a paper on the Theology of Religions and I presented a paper On Inter-religious Dialogue. It was titles:- Inter-religious Dialogue at a Turning Point in Asia towards new Christologies and Ecclesiologies.
At the meeting attended by more than 30 asian theologians and the Vatican Delegation, the discussions were cordial. Roman Delegation promised to publish in their Bulletin, but did not. Instead they sent me 8 questions prepared by an Italian theologian Colombo, in Italian, through the Colombo Nuncio, to be answered by me. They were not happy about my Theo-centric Approach in Preference to a Christo-centric Approach, and also my suggesting new Christologies and Ecclesiologies in Asia.
I promptly answered them.
Later they also asked me to write an article on the subject of justifying missionary activity of the church to their magazine in Rome, published by the Congregation for Evangelisation of people. This request was made to clear their doubt about my not supporting the missionary activity of the church in preference to inter-religious dialogue with other religions. I wrote that too. Though humiliating, I fulfilled their requests and clarified my position. Thus I remained within the church without any excommunication!
In my meeting with the Cardinal Prefect of Propaganda Fide, in 1992 on the occasion of my silver jubilee of priesthood, though I went to thank the Congregation to thank for educating me at Prop. Fide and trusting me with various responsabilities, the Cardinal was eager to discuss my theological articles he had collected. I did discuss. Then I told him I cannot be rector of a major seminary and vicar generl of a diocese, when your eminence doubt my theology. He said no no you continue yor work for the church!
My paper was published in the East Asian Pastoral Review of the EAPI in Manila as well as in the Zeitschrift für Missions und Religions Wissenschaft ZMR, in 1989. I have only a printed Version and could not download it from the Computer, I am giving photocopies of my paper.
I consider my call for a theo-centric approach to Dialogue in Asia and the call for new Christologies and Ecclesiologies in Asia, are followed up by Asian theologians like Felix Wilfred and Aloy Peiris.
I myself was more engaged during the last two decades with a Liberation theology for political Engagement regarding Sri Lanka, and did not go further into the theme of Dialogue in Asia.
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