The Church was a “listening Church” at a recently concluded colloquium of religious thinkers and officials, the leader of India’s Catholic theologians says. “The colloquium was unique in the sense that all its participants felt the Church is not only a teaching Church but also a listening Church,” said Father Jacob Parappally, president of the Indian Theological Association (ITA). The Jan. 16-19 meeting in Bangalore between theologians and officials from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), as well as bishops was an opportunity to listen to many concerns, the Fransalian priest told ucanews.com The officials “talked with the theologians directly and listened to their concerns, problems and difficulties in proclaiming Christ in a meaningful way in a pluralistic society like India,” the priest said. The officials included CDF head Cardinal William Levada, his secretary Archbishop Luis Ladaria and four other Vatican officials. The heads of three ritual Churches in India -- the Latin, Syro Malabar and Syro Malankara -- also attended the colloquium. Father Parappally described the program as a “historic event” as it was the “first time a head of the CDF with his officials had sat and heard the concerns” in proclaiming Christ in a multi-cultural and multi-religious environment like India. “Earlier they only had texts from India now they can see the context. For the theologians it was an opportunity to understand the difficulties, which the CDF encounters in preserving the faith entrusted to the Church,” the ITA president explained. Related reports Vatican group looks at role of Indian theologians Living the Eucharist in Asia IA13042.1638