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Indian appointed Dean of Rome faculty

Dr. Jesu Pudumai Doss set to take over as head of UPS's canon law faculty
Indian appointed Dean of Rome faculty
Dr. Jesu Pudumai Doss
Published: April 27, 2011 10:55 AM GMT
Updated: April 27, 2011 11:08 AM GMT

Dr. Jesu Pudumai Doss has become the first Indian to be appointed dean of the 70-year-old canon law faculty at the Universita’ Pontificia Salesiana (UPS) in Rome. He succeeds Dr. David Albornoz from Chile. The UPS Grand Chancellor, Rector Major of the Salesians, Dr. Pascual Chavez appointed Dr. Pudumai Doss by a decree dated 15th April announcing the start of his deanship on April29, the feast of St. Catherine of Siena, Patroness of Italy and Europe. "It is a sign of trust and appreciation of the rector major towards India and its valuable contribution to UPS, especially during these years," said the 43-year-old Dr. Pudumai Doss, commenting on his appointment. “It is indeed a big responsibility that I hope to carry out well with the help of all the professors of our faculty, especially the Salesian professors, among whom we are proud to have several involved in various degrees of canonical work at the level of the Universal Church, like the judicial vicar and president of the First Instance Tribunal for the Lazio Region of the Vicariate of Rome and the substitute promoter of justice at the Apostolic Signatura." Taking stock of the dwindling number of students, the new dean confessed, "it is a difficult and delicate moment for our faculty due to diminishing numbers of Salesian professors and students.” Dr. Doss says he plans “to study and propose in coming years every possibility to revive our faculty.” An associate professor at the UPS since2002, Dr. Pudumai Doss is the second Indian to hold the post of dean at the UPS which has six faculties. Professor Scaria Thuruthiyil was dean of the UPS philosophy faculty in the 1990s. A native of Chennai, India and formerly a Salesian priest in Chennai province, Dr Pudumai Doss has a doctorate in Canon Law, and holds two masters degrees in Latin Canon Law and Oriental Canon Law, as well as two masters in English Literature and Education, and a bachelor’s degree in Indian Civil Law. Author of several books on Canon Law, Dr. Pudumai Doss has written several articles in international journals and co-authored several other books -- Freedom of Enquiry and Expression in the Catholic Church. A Canonico-Theological Study (Bangalore 2007) is an example. Besides teaching at UPS, he is also a visiting professor at Don Bosco Theological Centre, Chennai and other theological centers in Bangalore and Shillong. He is an external judge in the Regional Tribunal of the Vicariate of Rome and a Special Commissioner for favor fidei cases at the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith at the Vatican. He is also Canon Law consultant to various Italian dioceses and religious institutes.

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