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[[Image:Stthomascross.jpg|thumb|200px|Cross reputedly inscribed by [[Thomas the Apostle]] in Roman Catholic shrine dedicated to him in [[Chennai]], [[India]] [http://thecmsindia.org/art.html#persian_cross] ]]
[[Image:Stthomascross.jpg|thumb|200px|Cross reputedly inscribed by [[Thomas the Apostle]] in Roman Catholic shrine dedicated to him in [[Chennai]], [[India]]]]
The '''Roman Catholic Church in India''' is part of the worldwide [[Roman Catholic Church]], under the leadership of the [[Pope]] and [[Roman Curia|curia]] in [[Rome]].
The '''Catholic Church in India''' is part of the worldwide [[Catholic Church]], under the leadership of the [[Pope]] and [[curia]] in [[Rome]]. [[Christianity in India]] dates to first century AD<ref name="missick"/>
⚫
There are over 17.3 million Catholics in India,<ref name="BBC">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/4243727.stm Factfile: Roman Catholics around the world] on BBC news.</ref> which represents less than 2% of the total population<ref name="Global">Megan Galbraith [http://www.globalhealth.org/reports/text.php3?id=232 Catholic Church of India Responds with Leadership] Field note on Glocal Health Council website.</ref> and is the largest Christian Church within India.<ref name="BBC"/> There are 157 ecclesiastical units in India comprising 29 archdioceses and 128 dioceses. Of these, 127 are [[Latin Rite]], 25 [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church|Syro-Malabar Rite]] and 5 [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Church|Syro-Malankara Rite]].


⚫
There are over 17.3 million Catholics in India, belonging to three rites viz., Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara and Latin<ref name="BBC">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/4243727.stm Factfile: Roman Catholics around the world] on BBC news.</ref> which represents less than 2% of the total population<ref name="Global">Megan Galbraith [http://www.globalhealth.org/reports/text.php3?id=232 Catholic Church of India Responds with Leadership] Field note on Glocal Health Council website.</ref> and is the largest Church within India.<ref name="BBC"/> There are 157 ecclesiastical units in India comprising 29 archdioceses and 128 dioceses. Of these, 127 are Latin Rite, 25 Syro-Malabar Rite and 5 Syro-Malankara Rite.
⚫
All the [[bishop]]s in India, both Western and Eastern, form the [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of India]], which was founded in 1944.<ref>[http://www.cbcisite.com/who%20we%20are.htm Catholic Bishops Conference of India] on CBCI website.</ref> The [[Holy See]]'s representative to the government of India and to the Church in India is the [[Apostolic Nuncio to India]]. The [[diplomatic mission]] was established as the Apostolic Delegation to the East Indies in 1881. It was raised to an [[Internunciature]] by [[Pope Pius XII]] in 1948, and to a full [[Apostolic Nunciature]] by [[Pope Paul VI]] in 1967.<ref>[http://www.indiancatholic.in/apostolic.asp Apostolic Nunciature] on Indian Catholic website.</ref>


⚫
All the bishops in India, both Western and Eastern, form the [[Catholic Bishops' Conference of India]], which was founded in 1944.<ref>[http://www.cbcisite.com/who%20we%20are.htm Catholic Bishops Conference of India] on CBCI website.</ref> The [[Holy See]]'s representative to the government of India and to the Church in India is the [[Apostolic Nuncio to India]]. The [[diplomatic mission]] was established as the Apostolic Delegation to the East Indies in 1881. It was raised to an [[Internunciature]] by [[Pope Pius XII]] in 1948, and to a full [[Apostolic Nunciature]] by [[Pope Paul VI]] in 1967.<ref>[http://www.indiancatholic.in/apostolic.asp Apostolic Nunciature] on Indian Catholic website.</ref>
{{Ciiportal}}
{{Catholicismportal}}


==History of Roman Catholicism in India==
==History of Roman Catholicism in India==
===Early Christianity in India===
===Pre-Catholic Christianity===
{{main|Saint Thomas Christians}}
{{main|Saint Thomas Christians}}
⚫
Christianity in India is reputed to have been introduced by [[Thomas the Apostle]] in [[52]] AD.<ref name="missick">Stephen Andrew Missick.[http://www.jaas.org/edocs/v14n2/missick.pdf Mar Thoma: The Apostolic Foundation of the Assyrian Church and the Christians of St. Thomas in India.] Journal of Assyrian Academic studies.</ref> These [[Thomas Christians|Saint Thomas Christians]] were [[Nestorians]] atleast by [[530]] AD.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14678a.htm#X Were these Christians infected with Nestorianism before 1599?] on Catholic Encylopedia entry on St.Thomas Christians.</ref> This community were governed by the [[Bishops]] from [[Persia]] and [[Babylonia]].<ref name="CEIndia"/>
[[Image:Thomasstamp.jpg|thumb|120px|left|St.Thomas]]
⚫
Christianity in India is reputed to have been introduced by [[Thomas the Apostle]] in [[52]] AD.<ref name="missick">Stephen Andrew Missick.[http://www.jaas.org/edocs/v14n2/missick.pdf Mar Thoma: The Apostolic Foundation of the Assyrian Church and the Christians of St. Thomas in India.] Journal of Assyrian Academic studies.</ref> These [[Thomas Christians|Saint Thomas Christians]] were [[Nestorians]] at least by [[530]] AD.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14678a.htm#X Were these Christians infected with Nestorianism before 1599?] on Catholic Encyclopedia entry on St.Thomas Christians.</ref> This community were governed by the Bishops from [[Persia]] and [[Babylonia]].<ref name="CEIndia"/>


===Early Missionaries===
===Arival of the Portuguese===
⚫
Introduction of the Catholicism in India started with arival of [[Vasco da Gama]],<ref name="BBC"/> seeking pre-existing Christian nations.<ref>[http://www.lib.umich.edu/area/sasia/dagama.htm '''Vasco da Gama collection''' on University of Michigan]</ref> When the [[Portuguese]] came into India, they set themselves to the task of removing this Nestorianism and bringing the community into union with the Catholic Church.<ref name="CEIndia">[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07722a.htm India] on Catholic Encylopedia.</ref> [[Latin|Latinisation]] of St Thomas Christians started in the early 16th century.<ref name="synod">[http://www.synodofdiamper.com/synod.php Synod of Diamper] on Synod of Diamper Church website.</ref> [[Synod of Diamper]] was convened by the Portuguese between [[20 June|20]] and [[26 June]] [[1599]] which led to most Indian Nestorians to acknowledge the authority of the [[Pope]] in [[Rome]].<ref name="synod"/> Most of the Christians in the [[Coramandel coast]] accepted Catholic faith but some St Thomas Christians of the [[Malabar]] still stayed with the [[Assyrian Church of the East|Assyrian Church]] or stayed independent.<ref name="CEIndia"/>


⚫
===Later convertions===
[[John of Monte Corvino]], was a Franciscan sent to China to become prelate of Peking in around 1307. He traveled from Persia and moved down by sea to India, in 1291, to the [[Madras]] region or “Country of St. Thomas” .There he preached for thirteen months and baptized about one hundred persons. From there Monte Corvino wrote home, in December 1291 (or 1292).That is one of the earliest noteworthy account of the Coromandel coast furnished by any Western European. Traveling by sea from Mailapur, he reached China in 1294, appearing in the capital “Cambaliech” (now Beijing)<ref> Odoric of Pordenone (Nendeen, Liechenstein, 1967), Henry Yule, trans. Cathy and the Way Thither vol. II ,P-142. </ref>
⚫
Other than the St Thomas Christians people of other faith were converted zealously by the Portuguese. This started with [[Goa]], then spread to fishery coast of [[Kanyakumari|Cape Comorin]], inland districts of [[Madura]] and the western coast of Bassein, Salcette, [[Bombay]], Karanja, and Chaul.<ref name="CEIndia"/> With the advent of suppression of Jesuits in [[1773]] the missionary expansion declined in India <ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Missionary+Tropics:+The+Catholic+Frontier+in+India,+16th-17th...-a0152010918 The Catholic Frontier in India; 16-17th century] from The Free library.</ref> along with the need for organisations within the Church in India.<ref name="CEIndia"/> Especially when the ''Vicar Apostolate of Bombay'' was erected in [[1637]] <ref>[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dbomb.html#details Archdiocese of Bombay] on Catholic Herarchy website.</ref> which was under the direct ruling from Rome, caused misunderstanding between the Portuguese missionary and the Apostolate.<ref name="CEIndia"/> The [[Goa Inquisition|inquisition of Goa]] had caused strained relationship and mistrust with the [[Hindus]] of India <ref>Paul Axelrod, Michelle A. Fuerch [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0026-749X(199605)30%3A2%3C387%3AFOTDHR%3E2.0.CO%3B2-0 Flight of the Deities: Hindu Resistance in Portuguese Goa] Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 2 (May, 1996), pp. 387-421</ref> The strained relations between the Church and the Portuguese missionaries reached a climax when in [[1838]] the Holy See cancelled the jurisdiction of the three suffragan Sees of Crangaqnore, Cochin, and Mylapur and transferred it to the nearest vicars Apostolic, and did the same with regard to certain portions of territory which had formerly been under the authority of Goa itself.<ref name="CEIndia"/> Finally in [[1886]] another concordat was established, and at the same time the whole country was divided into ecclesiastical provinces, and certain portions of territory, withdrawn in 1838, were restored to the jurisdiction of the Portuguese sees.<ref name="CEIndia"/>

[[Friar Odoric of Udine]] who arrived in India in 1321. He visited Malabar, touching at Pandarani (20 m. north of Calicut), at Cranganore, and at Kulam or Quilon, proceeding thence, apparently, to Ceylon and to the shrine of St Thomas at Maylapur near Madras. He writes he had found the place where Thomas was buried.

Father [[Jordanus]], a Dominican, followed in 1321-22. He reported to Rome, apparently from somewhere on the west coast of India, that he had given Christian burial to four martyred monks.

[[Jordan Catalani]] a French Dominican missionary and explorer in Asia. He is known for his “Mirabilia” describing the marvels of the East. In 1329, he furnished the best account of Indian regions and the Christians , the products, climate, manners, customs, fauna and flori given by any European in the Middle Ages - superior even to Marco Polo’s.

In 1347, [[Giovanni de’ Marignolli]] visited the shrine of St Thomas near the modern Madras, and then proceeded to what he calls the kingdom of Saba, and identifies with the Sheba of Scripture, but which seems from various particulars to have been Java. Taking ship again for Malabar on his way to Europe, he encountered great storms.

Another prominent Indian traveler was Joseph, priest over Cranganore. He journeyed to
Babylon in 1490 and then sailed to Europe and visited Portugal, Rome, and Venice before returning to India. He helped to write a book about his travels titled The Travels of Joseph the Indian which was widely disseminated across Europe.

===Arrival of the Portuguese===
Introduction of Catholicism in India started with arrival of [[Vasco da Gama]],<ref name="BBC"/> who was seeking pre-existing Christian nations with which to form anti-[[Islam]]ic alliances. The lucrative spice trade was further temptation for the Portuguese crown.<ref>[http://www.lib.umich.edu/area/sasia/dagama.htm '''Vasco da Gama collection''' on University of Michigan]</ref>

With the [[papal bull]] [[Romanus Pontifex]] the patronage of the mission was granted to the [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] and they were remunerated with a trade monopoly.<ref name="Daus_33">{{cite book
| last =Daus
| first =Ronald
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Die Erfindung des Kolonialismus
| publisher =Peter Hammer Verlag
| date= 1983
| location =Wuppertal/Germany| pages =p.33
| id =ISBN 3-87294-202-6}}{{de icon}}</ref> After four decades of prosperous trading they started the proselytization around 1540. Missionaries of the newly founded [[Society of Jesus]] were sent to Goa and the Portuguese colonial government supported the mission with incentives for baptized Christians. They offered rice donations for the poor, good positions in the Portuguese colonies for the middle class and military support for local rulers and hence these Christians were dubbed [[Rice Christian]]s who even practiced their old religion. At the same time many [[New Christian]]s from Portugal migrated to India as a result of the [[Portuguese Inquisition|inquisition in Portugal]]. Many of them were suspected [[Crypto-Jew]]s, because they were forcibly converted to Catholicism. Both was considered a threat to the immaculateness of the Christian belief.<ref name="Daus_61_66">{{cite book
| last =Daus
| first =Ronald
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title =Die Erfindung des Kolonialismus
| publisher =Peter Hammer Verlag
| date= 1983
| location =Wuppertal/Germany| pages =p. 61 - 66
| id =ISBN 3-87294-202-6}}{{de icon}}</ref>
Saint [[Francis Xavier]], in a 1545 letter to [[John III of Portugal]], requested an [[inquisition]] to be installed in Goa<ref name="Daus_61_66" /> which would spell the end of Portuguese domination in the Christian dominance.<ref name="Paul" />

⚫
When the [[Portuguese Empire|Portuguese]] came into India, they set themselves to the task of removing this Nestorianism and bringing the community into union with the Catholic Church.<ref name="CEIndia">[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07722a.htm India] on Catholic Encyclopedia.</ref> [[Latin]]isation of St Thomas Christians started in the early 16th century.<ref name="synod">[http://www.synodofdiamper.com/synod.php Synod of Diamper] on Synod of Diamper Church website.</ref> The [[Synod of Diamper]] was convened by the Portuguese between [[20 June|20]] and [[26 June]] [[1599]], which led most Indian Nestorians to acknowledge the authority of the [[Pope]] in [[Rome]].<ref name="synod"/> Most of the Christians in the [[Coramandel coast]] accepted the Catholic faith, but some St Thomas Christians of the [[Malabar]] still stayed with the [[Assyrian Church of the East|Assyrian Church]] or stayed independent.<ref name="CEIndia"/>

⚫
===Later conversions===
⚫
Other than the St Thomas Christians, people of other faiths were [[religious conversion|converted]] zealously by the Portuguese. This started with [[Goa]], then spread to fishery coast of [[Kanyakumari (town)|Cape Comorin]], inland districts of [[Madurai]] and the western coast of Bassein, Salcette, [[Bombay]], Karanja, and Chaul.<ref name="CEIndia"/> With the advent of suppression of [[Society of Jesus|Jesuits]] in 1773 the missionary expansion declined in India<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Missionary+Tropics:+The+Catholic+Frontier+in+India,+16th-17th...-a0152010918 The Catholic Frontier in India; 16-17th century] from The Free library.</ref> along with the need for organisations within the Church in India.<ref name="CEIndia"/> Especially when the ''Vicar Apostolate of Bombay'' was erected in 1637<ref>[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dbomb.html#details Archdiocese of Bombay] on Catholic Herarchy website.</ref> which was under the direct ruling from Rome, caused misunderstanding between the Portuguese missionary and the Apostolate.<ref name="CEIndia"/> The [[Goa Inquisition|inquisition of Goa]] had caused strained relationship and mistrust with the [[Hinduism|Hindus]] of India<ref name="Paul">Paul Axelrod, Michelle A. Fuerch [http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0026-749X(199605)30%3A2%3C387%3AFOTDHR%3E2.0.CO%3B2-0 Flight of the Deities: Hindu Resistance in Portuguese Goa] Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 2 (May, 1996), pp. 387-421</ref> The strained relations between the Church and the Portuguese missionaries reached a climax when in 1838 the Holy See cancelled the jurisdiction of the three suffragan Sees of Crangaqnore, Cochin, and Mylapur and transferred it to the nearest vicars Apostolic, and did the same with regard to certain portions of territory which had formerly been under the authority of Goa itself.<ref name="CEIndia"/> Finally in 1886 another concordat was established, and at the same time the whole country was divided into ecclesiastical provinces, and certain portions of territory, withdrawn in 1838, were restored to the jurisdiction of the Portuguese sees.<ref name="CEIndia"/>


==Catholic Church and social works==
==Catholic Church and social works==
[[Image:MotherTeresa 090.jpg|thumb|Catholic social workers like [[Mother Teresa]] have been in the limelight to international media.]]
[[Image:MotherTeresaTimeMag.jpg|thumb|150px|Catholic social workers like [[Mother Teresa]] have been in limelight to international media.]]
Concern with charity was common to Catholics and [[Protestantism|Protestants]], but with one major difference: whilst the former believe that salvation can be obtained through faith and good works and that one might be relatively sure that forgiveness of sins could be aided through charity, the latter could not rely on such a possibility, since they believe God alone can save believers, without the agency of the individual or intermediaries.<ref name="Isabel">Isabel dos Guimarães Sá [http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Portuguese_Brazilian_Studies/ejph/html/Summer04/html/igsa_main.html Catholic Charity in Perspective: The Social Life of Devotion in Portugal and its Empire (1450-1700)] Journal of Portuguese History. Vol.2, number 1, Summer 2004.</ref> In Portuguese India, for instance, Saint [[Francis Xavier]] and his fellow missionaries were especially careful to help the local charitable institutions by tending to the sick, both spiritually and physically, and performing other works of mercy.<ref name="Isabel"/> The Jesuits' educational institutions, although never succeeding in missionary activities, had left a prestigious impact through their education institutions.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9F01E6DE123CE433A25755C0A9609C94669ED7CF&oref=slogin Catholic education in India] ''The New York Times'', June 6, 1887.</ref> Education has become the major priority for the Church in India in recent years with nearly 60% of the Catholic schools situated in rural areas.<ref>[http://new.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=9416&geo=2&size= Card. Toppo: “Education is the Churches priority mission and key to Indian development”] Asia News.</ref> Even in the early part of the 19th century, Catholic schools had left its emphasis on poor relief and welfare.<ref>J. Hutching [http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a746515466~db=all THE CATHOLIC POOR SCHOOLS, 1800 to 1845: Part 1 The Catholic Poor-relief, welfare and schools] Journal of Educational Administration and History, Volume 1, Issue 2 June 1969 , pages 1 - 8.</ref>
Concern with charity was common to Catholics and Protestants, but with one major difference: whilst the former could obtain salvation through good works and might be relatively sure that forgiveness of sins could be obtained through charity, the latter could not rely on such a possibility, since God alone could save believers, without the agency of the individual or intermediaries.<ref name="Isabel">Isabel dos Guimarães Sá [http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Portuguese_Brazilian_Studies/ejph/html/Summer04/html/igsa_main.html Catholic Charity in Perspective: The Social Life of Devotion in Portugal and its Empire (1450-1700)] Journal of Portuguese History. Vol.2, number 1, Summer 2004.</ref> In Portuguese India, for instance, Saint [[Francis Xavier]] and his fellow missionaries were especially careful to help the local charitable institutions by tending to the sick, both spiritually and physically, and performing other works of mercy.<ref name="Isabel"/> The Jesuits educations institutions although never succeeded in missionary activities had left a pretegious impact on through their education institutions.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9F01E6DE123CE433A25755C0A9609C94669ED7CF&oref=slogin Catholic education in India] The New York Times, June 6, 1887.</ref> Education has become the major priority for the Church in India in recent years with nearly 60% of the Catholic schools situated in rural areas.<ref>[http://new.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=9416&geo=2&size= Card. Toppo: “Education is the Churches priority mission and key to Indian development”] Asia News.</ref> Even in the early part of the 19th-century Catholic schools had left its emphasis on poor relief and welfare.<ref>J. Hutching [http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~content=a746515466~db=all THE CATHOLIC POOR SCHOOLS, 1800 to 1845: Part 1 The Catholic Poor-relief, welfare and schools] Journal of Educational Administration and History, Volume 1, Issue 2 June 1969 , pages 1 - 8.</ref>


The Church provides an estimated 22 percent of all health-care services, operating 5,000 facilities, and employs 33 percent of Indian health-care workers, including 40,000 Catholic nurses.<ref name="Global"/>
The Church provides an estimated 22 percent of all health-care services operating 5,000 facilities and employs 33 percent of Indian health-care workers including 40,000 Catholic nurses.<ref name="Global"/>


==Ecclesiastical Provinces==
==Ecclessiastical Provinces==
{{main|Catholic Ecclesiastical Provinces in India}}
{{main|Catholic Ecclessiatical Provinces in India}}
The provinces covered by the Church include 31 provinciates, which are broken down into 23 Roman Catholic, 6 Syro-Malabar and 2 Syro-Malabar provinces.
The provinces covered by the Church include 31 provinciates, which are broken down into 23 Roman Catholic, 6 Syro-Malabar and 2 Syro-Malabar provinces.


==Statistics==
==Statistics==
;Statistics for 2003
;Statistics for 2003
*Total number of diocesan priests: 14,000
Total number of diocesan priests: 14,000<br>
*Religious Priests: 13,500
Religious Priests: 13,500<br>
*Religious Brothers: 4,300
Religious Brothers: 4,300<br>
*Religious Sisters: 90,000
Religious Sisters: 90,000<br>
*Total no. of Religious Congregations: 300 (Men, 70; Women, 230)
Total no. of Religious Congregations: 300 (Men, 70; Women, 230)<br>


;Educational Institutions:
;Educational Institutions:
*Kindergartens/Nursery Schools: 3,785
Kindergartens/Nursery Schools: 3,785<br>
*Primary Schools: 7,319
Primary Schools: 7,319<br>
*Secondary Schools: 3,765
Secondary Schools: 3,765<br>
*Colleges: 240
Colleges: 240<br>
*Medical/Nursing Schools/Colleges: 28
Medical/Nursing Schools/Colleges: 28<br>
*Engineering Colleges: 5
Engineering Colleges: 5<br>


;Social Welfare Activities:
;Social Welfare Activities:
*Technical Training Schools/Polytechnics: 1,524
Technical Training Schools/Polytechnics: 1,524<br>
*Hostels/Boarding Houses: 1,765
Hostels/Boarding Houses: 1,765<br>
*Orphanages: 1,085
Orphanages: 1,085<br>
*Creches: 228
Creches: 228<br>
*Hospitals: 704
Hospitals: 704<br>
*Dispensaries/Health Centres: 1,792
Dispensaries/Health Centres: 1,792<br>
*Leprosaria: 111
Leprosaria: 111<br>
*Rehabilitation Centres: 102
Rehabilitation Centres: 102<br>
*Homes for Aged, Destitutes & Physically challenged: 455
Homes for Aged, Destitutes & Physically challenged: 455<br>

⚫
==References==
⚫
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Catholicismportal}}
{{Ciiportal}}

*[http://www.gcatholic.com/dioceses/data/countryIN.htm Giga-Catholic Information]
*[http://www.gcatholic.com/dioceses/data/countryIN.htm Giga-Catholic Information]
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07722a.htm Catholic encyclopedia - India]
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07722a.htm Catholic encyclopedia - India]
*[http://www.cbcisite.com Catholic Bishop's Conference of India]
*[http://www.cbcisite.com Catholic Bishop's Conference of India]
*[http://malankara.net/ Syro-Malankara Church]
*[http://malankara.net/ Syro-Malankara Church]

*[http://www.syromalankara.org/ Syro Malankara Catholic Church International Homepage]
⚫
==References==
⚫
{{reflist|2}}

==See also==
*[[Roman Catholic Church]]
*[[Christianity in India]]



{{Asia in topic|Roman Catholicism in}}
{{Asia in topic|Roman Catholicism in}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:India}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:India}}
[[Category:Roman Catholic Church in Asia|India]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Church in Asia]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Church in India|*]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Church in India]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Church by country|India]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic Church by country]]
[[Category:Christian denominations in India]]


[[de:Römisch-katholische Kirche in Indien]]
[[it:Chiesa cattolica in India]]
[[it:Chiesa cattolica in India]]

Revision as of 17:12, 23 October 2008

File:Stthomascross.jpg
Cross reputedly inscribed by Thomas the Apostle in Roman Catholic shrine dedicated to him in Chennai, India

The Catholic Church in India is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. Christianity in India dates to first century AD[1]

There are over 17.3 million Catholics in India, belonging to three rites viz., Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara and Latin[2] which represents less than 2% of the total population[3] and is the largest Church within India.[2] There are 157 ecclesiastical units in India comprising 29 archdioceses and 128 dioceses. Of these, 127 are Latin Rite, 25 Syro-Malabar Rite and 5 Syro-Malankara Rite.

All the bishops in India, both Western and Eastern, form the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, which was founded in 1944.[4] The Holy See's representative to the government of India and to the Church in India is the Apostolic Nuncio to India. The diplomatic mission was established as the Apostolic Delegation to the East Indies in 1881. It was raised to an Internunciature by Pope Pius XII in 1948, and to a full Apostolic Nunciature by Pope Paul VI in 1967.[5]

History of Roman Catholicism in India

Pre-Catholic Christianity

Main article: Saint Thomas Christians

Christianity in India is reputed to have been introduced by Thomas the Apostle in 52 AD.[1] These Saint Thomas Christians were Nestorians atleast by 530 AD.[6] This community were governed by the Bishops from Persia and Babylonia.[7]

Arival of the Portuguese

Introduction of the Catholicism in India started with arival of Vasco da Gama,[2] seeking pre-existing Christian nations.[8] When the Portuguese came into India, they set themselves to the task of removing this Nestorianism and bringing the community into union with the Catholic Church.[7] Latinisation of St Thomas Christians started in the early 16th century.[9] Synod of Diamper was convened by the Portuguese between 20 and 26 June 1599 which led to most Indian Nestorians to acknowledge the authority of the Pope in Rome.[9] Most of the Christians in the Coramandel coast accepted Catholic faith but some St Thomas Christians of the Malabar still stayed with the Assyrian Church or stayed independent.[7]

Later convertions

Other than the St Thomas Christians people of other faith were converted zealously by the Portuguese. This started with Goa, then spread to fishery coast of Cape Comorin, inland districts of Madura and the western coast of Bassein, Salcette, Bombay, Karanja, and Chaul.[7] With the advent of suppression of Jesuits in 1773 the missionary expansion declined in India [10] along with the need for organisations within the Church in India.[7] Especially when the Vicar Apostolate of Bombay was erected in 1637 [11] which was under the direct ruling from Rome, caused misunderstanding between the Portuguese missionary and the Apostolate.[7] The inquisition of Goa had caused strained relationship and mistrust with the Hindus of India [12] The strained relations between the Church and the Portuguese missionaries reached a climax when in 1838 the Holy See cancelled the jurisdiction of the three suffragan Sees of Crangaqnore, Cochin, and Mylapur and transferred it to the nearest vicars Apostolic, and did the same with regard to certain portions of territory which had formerly been under the authority of Goa itself.[7] Finally in 1886 another concordat was established, and at the same time the whole country was divided into ecclesiastical provinces, and certain portions of territory, withdrawn in 1838, were restored to the jurisdiction of the Portuguese sees.[7]

Catholic Church and social works

File:MotherTeresaTimeMag.jpg
Catholic social workers like Mother Teresa have been in limelight to international media.

Concern with charity was common to Catholics and Protestants, but with one major difference: whilst the former could obtain salvation through good works and might be relatively sure that forgiveness of sins could be obtained through charity, the latter could not rely on such a possibility, since God alone could save believers, without the agency of the individual or intermediaries.[13] In Portuguese India, for instance, Saint Francis Xavier and his fellow missionaries were especially careful to help the local charitable institutions by tending to the sick, both spiritually and physically, and performing other works of mercy.[13] The Jesuits educations institutions although never succeeded in missionary activities had left a pretegious impact on through their education institutions.[14] Education has become the major priority for the Church in India in recent years with nearly 60% of the Catholic schools situated in rural areas.[15] Even in the early part of the 19th-century Catholic schools had left its emphasis on poor relief and welfare.[16]

The Church provides an estimated 22 percent of all health-care services operating 5,000 facilities and employs 33 percent of Indian health-care workers including 40,000 Catholic nurses.[3]

Ecclessiastical Provinces

Main article: Catholic Ecclessiatical Provinces in India

The provinces covered by the Church include 31 provinciates, which are broken down into 23 Roman Catholic, 6 Syro-Malabar and 2 Syro-Malabar provinces.

Statistics

Statistics for 2003

Total number of diocesan priests: 14,000
Religious Priests: 13,500
Religious Brothers: 4,300
Religious Sisters: 90,000
Total no. of Religious Congregations: 300 (Men, 70; Women, 230)

Educational Institutions

Kindergartens/Nursery Schools: 3,785
Primary Schools: 7,319
Secondary Schools: 3,765
Colleges: 240
Medical/Nursing Schools/Colleges: 28
Engineering Colleges: 5

Social Welfare Activities

Technical Training Schools/Polytechnics: 1,524
Hostels/Boarding Houses: 1,765
Orphanages: 1,085
Creches: 228
Hospitals: 704
Dispensaries/Health Centres: 1,792
Leprosaria: 111
Rehabilitation Centres: 102
Homes for Aged, Destitutes & Physically challenged: 455

References

  1. ^ a b Stephen Andrew Missick.Mar Thoma: The Apostolic Foundation of the Assyrian Church and the Christians of St. Thomas in India. Journal of Assyrian Academic studies.
  2. ^ a b c Factfile: Roman Catholics around the world on BBC news.
  3. ^ a b Megan Galbraith Catholic Church of India Responds with Leadership Field note on Glocal Health Council website.
  4. ^ Catholic Bishops Conference of India on CBCI website.
  5. ^ Apostolic Nunciature on Indian Catholic website.
  6. ^ Were these Christians infected with Nestorianism before 1599? on Catholic Encylopedia entry on St.Thomas Christians.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h India on Catholic Encylopedia.
  8. ^ Vasco da Gama collection on University of Michigan
  9. ^ a b Synod of Diamper on Synod of Diamper Church website.
  10. ^ The Catholic Frontier in India; 16-17th century from The Free library.
  11. ^ Archdiocese of Bombay on Catholic Herarchy website.
  12. ^ Paul Axelrod, Michelle A. Fuerch Flight of the Deities: Hindu Resistance in Portuguese Goa Modern Asian Studies, Vol. 30, No. 2 (May, 1996), pp. 387-421
  13. ^ a b Isabel dos Guimarães Sá Catholic Charity in Perspective: The Social Life of Devotion in Portugal and its Empire (1450-1700) Journal of Portuguese History. Vol.2, number 1, Summer 2004.
  14. ^ Catholic education in India The New York Times, June 6, 1887.
  15. ^ Card. Toppo: “Education is the Churches priority mission and key to Indian development” Asia News.
  16. ^ J. Hutching THE CATHOLIC POOR SCHOOLS, 1800 to 1845: Part 1 The Catholic Poor-relief, welfare and schools Journal of Educational Administration and History, Volume 1, Issue 2 June 1969 , pages 1 - 8.

See also


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