Gabriel Vaz
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jun 4: A final solution to the vexed language row over the liturgical celebrations in the Bangalore Archdiocese, which has been defying solutions for almost four decades, appears to be likely if the all powerful Senate body of the Archdiocese takes an unanimous decision at its next meeting in Bangalore on July 17.
If the Senate of Priests and the College of Consultors recommend the guidelines as mentioned in the latest official circular issued by the Archdiocese, Kannada will continue to remain as the principal language of the Archdiocese and enjoy prime slot in the Mass Timings as well as in Liturgical Celebrations.
However, along with Kannada, the major languages of Tamil and English, that formed part of the three-language formula adopted during the tenure of former Archbishop Dr Alphonse Mathias, other languages such as Telugu, Malayalam and even Konkani will find a place.
Incidentally, it is quite likely that any final solution to the language row in the Archdiocese of Bangalore may have its repercussions in other parts of the State, especially in Dioceses like Chikmagalur, Mysore and Shimoga as the Konkani speaking people in these dioceses have been quite restive over the years.
If the Bangalore model of solving the language row leads to similar exercises in other dioceses, it might improve linguistic harmony and unity among the Catholic faithful all over the State.
The meeting of the Senate body of the Bangalore Archdiocese had been convened thrice in the recent past to solve the language issue but the meetings of January 10, March 3 and April 9 could not arrive at any concrete solution.
Controversy Defying Solution for 40 years
Archbishop of Bangalore Dr Bernard Moras, who had been facing serious problems in different parishes in the Archdiocese over the last several years, has in the latest circular of the Archdiocese No. 120 for the month of June 2014, pointed out that a 10-member committee of priests from the Senate was appointed ''to propose ways and means to sort out the language issue that has been troubling the Archdiocese from the last 40 years.”
However, the Archbishop and the Official Circular are silent on the report and findings of the three-member high-level committee appointed by the Vatican Envoy to India under the Chairmanship of Archbishop Dr Thomas Menaparampil, which met a large number of delegations in Bangalore in 2012 on demands for a separate Semianary and also the language issue.
The 10-member committee with Fr Xavier Manavanth, Director of Sanyasa and former Provincial of the Claretian Missionaries in Bangalore, as the Moderator, appointed by the Bangalore Archdiocesan Senate was given a 5-point criteria to find a solution that takes care of the concerns of the people belonging to the faithful belonging to different languages in the Archdiocese.
The 5-point criteria is, as follows:
1. Liturgical guidelines given by the Church in its Documents;
2. Cosmopolitan and Multi-cultural scenarios of the Archdiocese;
3. Language profile of our faithful in the Archdiocese;
4. Pastoral responsibilities of the priests towards the faithful; and
5. Promotion of language, culture, tradition to deepen people’s faith and to give impetus to evangelization and pastoral care in the Archdiocese.
The Archbishop, in his latest circular from the Archdiocese, has asked all Archdiocesan priests to directly send their suggestions to Fr Xavier Manavanth at the Archbishop’s Residence ''so that we come closer to a solution in this regard.”
12-Point Guidelines
Some of the points and suggestions that came up discussion, which ''could be guidelines for arriving at final conclusion,” the basic thrust of all the 12 point guidelines to accord primacy to Kannada, the State’s Official language, as the Principal language of the Archdiocese, and giving Kannada the prime place and slot in the liturgical celebrations.
However, unlike the three-language formula adopted in Archdiocese, when Archbishop Emeritus Dr Alphonsus Mathias was the Archbishop, has been sought to given the go by. Thus, apart from Kannada, English and Tamil the three main languages in the Archdiocese for Masses and Liturgical celebrations, the 12-point guidelines proposes give leeway to accommodate other languages like Telugu, Malayalam and Konkani too.
''The criterion for selecting the language for the liturgy should not be based on the language of the State but primarily on the profile of the faithful participating in it,” says the Guidelines by emphasizing that apart from Kannada, ''provision has to be made to have the liturgical services in other languages also. Pastoral responsibility demands that the spiritual needs of these faithful are to be respected and fulfilled. Bangalore being a metropolitan city, Masses and liturgical services within Bangalore city and sub-urban Parishes of Bangalore should be offered in English.”
''While respecting the local language, culture and tradition, the Church has the duty to respect and promote other languages, cultures and traditions,” the Guidelines held that ''It is the duty of the Parish Pastoral Council to propose the language/s for the liturgy based on the profile of the parish community. The Archbishop taking into consideration the recommendation made by the Dean and the Parish Priest and also in consultation with the Members of the Priests’ Council and the College of Consultors, will decide the language/s to be used in the liturgy in the parish.
The 12-point guidelines listed in the latest official circular are:
1) The principal language of the Archdiocese is Kannada. However, masses and other liturgical services are to be conducted in other subsidiary languages depending on the need of the congregation. In all parishes of the Archdiocese, the principal language is to be encouraged in Masses and liturgical services and gradually introduced where it is not existing. The language in the liturgy should be understood by the vast majority of the people present at the worship for their better understanding, participation and interaction. Hence, the criterion for selecting the language for the liturgy should not be based on the language of the State but primarily on the profile of the faithful participating in it.
2) The Archdiocese of Bangalore is a cosmopolitan city with different linguistic groups (such as Kannada, English, Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Konkani and other smaller migrant groups) settled in Bangalore. Besides Kannada, provision has to be made to have the liturgical services in other languages also. Pastoral responsibility demands that the spiritual needs of these faithful are to be respected and fulfilled. Bangalore being a metropolitan city, Masses and liturgical services within Bangalore city and sub-urban Parishes of Bangalore should be offered in English.
3) Many migrant youth and workers are coming into Bangalore and their spiritual needs have to be taken care of.
4) While respecting the local language, culture and tradition, the Church has the duty to respect and promote other languages, cultures and traditions.
5) The Archdiocesan common liturgical celebrations can be held in Kannada language by making provision for reading and singing in different languages that are prevalent at present in the Archdiocese.
6) Kannada language should be given importance in the Archdiocese and the Kannada Services should be conducted in all parishes. When a new parish is erected and the Masses are arranged in different languages, Kannada Mass should be scheduled at the prime time.
7) It is the duty of the Parish Pastoral Council to propose the language/s for the liturgy based on the profile of the parish community. The Archbishop taking into consideration the recommendation made by the Dean and the Parish Priest and also in consultation with the Members of the Priests’ Council and the College of Consultors, will decide the language/s to be used in the liturgy in the parish.
8) When a new parish is erected and/or an existing parish is bifurcated, the Archdiocesan Boundary Committee will propose the parish limits and also the profile of the new parish. The Archbishop, in consultation with the members of the Priests’ Council and the College of Consultors, will issue directives pertaining to the language policy for the new parish.
9) The Archbishop has to decide and implement the language policy in the parishes, institutions and mission units in the Archdiocese after studying the profile of the parish in consultation with the Statutory Bodies.
10) Funeral, weddings, jubilee Masses/Services should be conducted in a language of choice of parties, provided these services are not during fixed services of the parish.
11) In parishes where there are two or three language Masses or services on various occasions, it will continue or where necessary will be introduced.
12) All issues should be solved in a cordial atmosphere with mutual respect, openness and dialogue.