Report of the Syro-Malabar Major
Archiepiscopal Commission for
Doctrine
The Syro-Malabar Major
Archiepiscipal Commission for
Doctrine had four sittings in the
period between August 2005 to
August 2006. The first two
meetings were mainly to plan out
the proper functioning of the
commission. In the second meeting
which was held in January 2006 the
commission decided to have the
next meeting along with experts
from various theological fields.
Hence the third meeting was he id
on 3'd May 2006 at Mount St.
Thomas, Kakkanad. The meeting
began at 10.30 am. Rt. Rev. Dr.
Gratian Mundadan CMI the Chairman
of the Commission presided over
the meeting. Two other Episcopal
members of the commission Bp.
Sebastian Vadakkel MST and Bp.
Joseph Kunnath CMI and eleven
experts from various theological
fields participated in the
meeting. The following are the
invited members who were present
in the meeting.
1. Fr. Mathew Illathuparambil
(Moral Theology)
2. Fr. Antony Narikulam
(Liturgy)
3. F r.V in ce nt Kundukulam
(Systematic Theology)
4. Fr. George Karakunnel
(Systematic Theology)
5. Fr. Hormis Mynatty (Moral
Theology)
6. Fr. Tony Neelamkavil
(Systematic Theology)
7. Fr. Paul Kalluveettil CM'I
(Scripture]
8. Fr. Paul Thelakkattu
(Philosophy)
9. Fr. Pauly Kannookkadan
(Liturgy)
10. Fr. Jacob Naluparayii MCBS
(Scripture)
11. Fr. Siby Kurian Pulickal
(Secretary)
The participants were unanimous in
staling that the constitution of a
consultative body for the
Commission for Doctrine in the
Syro-Malabar Church is an urgent
need. It was suggested that at
least once in three months the
committee should gather to discuss
about the relevant theological and
doctrinal issues. The members
suggested that this consultative
body should pay sufficient
attention to respond in time to
attacks to Catholic faith from
various fields. The members noted
that the recent challenges to
Catholic faith raised by the novel
The Davinci Code and The
Gospel of Judas were not
adequately responded to by the
Church. The committee gave its
full support to Fr. Jacob
Naluparayil for preparing an issue
of Karunikan on this theme.
It was done and the members really
appreciated the work of Fr.
Naluparayil. There were also
efforts from other members of the
consultative body regarding this
subject. The participants
requested the Bishops that the
functioning of the committee
should have continuity and should
work also as a learning body.
According to the members, it is
good that this committee may
induct experts from various fields
like Social Sciences, Psychology,
Biblical Theology, Systematic
Theology, Moral Theology, Liturgy,
etc. The meeting also resulted in
preparing the following functional
guidelines for the consultative
body of the Doctrinal Commission.
Functional Guidelines for the
Consultative Body of the Syro-Malabar
Synodal Commission for Doctrine
-
It is a consultative body of the
Syro-Malabar Synodal Commission
for the Doctrine.
-
It consists of maximum 30
members from various disciplines
such as Systematic Theology,
Moral Theology, Biblical
Theology and Liturgy. It may
also invite to its meeting
experts from other supportive
fields such as sociology,
psychology, philosophy, etc. as
observers.
-
The members of this committee
will meet preferably once in
three months to discuss about
current theological issues and
the challenges to Catholic faith
in the Indian context.
-
The committee is to act
vigilantly to give theological
responses through media to the
intellectual and pastoral
threats to Catholic faith.
-
The committee has the nature of
a learning body and in matters
that require serious study the
committee will conduct seminars
and symposiums.
-
The theological findings of this
consultative body will be
submitted to the Synod through
the Synodal Commission for
further steps.
-
The committee may also give
theological assistance to the
Synodal Fathers if required.
-
The members of the committee
will keep watch on various
publications both from the
Christian
faithful and others in India to
make sure that the Catholic
teachings are not discarded as
to cause troubles to the faith
of the ordinary people.
-
It is preferable that the
committee holds its meetings
always with the participation of
the Synodal Commission for
Doctrine and in
serious-inconveniences the
Commission members would make
sure that at least one member of
the commission might be present
for the meeting.
The fourth meeting of the
Commission was held on 28'" August
2006. In this meeting the report
of the Commission for the Synod
was finalized. It was also decided
that the commission might arrange
a meeting of the consultative body
on 5* January 2007 to discuss
about the Recent Challenges to
Catholic Faith in Kerala. In this
meeting the list of the members of
the consultative body was also
finalized. The following are the
members of the Consultative Body
