Evangelization in a Marginalizing World

Dissertation / Doktorarbeit von Jose Madappattu

Abstract:

In pursuing the study, we followed a theological analysis of the concept of Evangelization in a marginalised world, and in this regard we base ourselves an the scriptural sources, documents of Vatican II, post-Vatican, the papal and synodal documents, and the reflections of theologians an the issue.

Our study is divided into five chapters an the whole. The first chapter, which has three parts. The first part of it is an attempt to see the meaning, context and core of the commonly used expression `holistic liberation' . Here we try to see whether the real meaning of the term has been incorporated into the life and pattern of the missionary endeavour of the Church as outlined in scripture, papal, synodal, and Vatican II documents. For this purpose, in the second part, we examine whether the notions of „human dignity“ and „human person“ as given in Pastoral Constitution of Gaudium et Spes, are visible vantage points and the stepping stones for further post-Vatican teachings. In the concluding section, efforts are made to throw some light an the holistic liberation in the ecclesial context of India, after which we review the three dimensions of evangelization in India, i.e. inculturation, dialogue and liberation.

Chapter two of our work is situated against the Indian background. A reasonable knowledge of the context in which the evangelization has to take place seems necessary. In order to situate the context properly we try to see India from its social, economic, cultural and religious dimensions. The ecclesial situation of India is considered because we believe that it is the Churches in India that are the agents of the process of holistic liberation. In the second part of this chapter we make a semantic view of `marginalised' . It is followed by an investigation an the most marginalised in Madhya Pradesh/India viz. the Dalits, the Adivasis and the Women, who are the victims of poverty, illiteracy and oppression. Marginalised in our study imply all those sections of the society in Madhya Pradesh who are kept an the fringes of the society an either one or all of the following criteria (a) Politically, (b) Economically, (c) Culturally. For a better understanding of the marginalised groups we take a specimen, the `Satnamis' in Raipur diocese and focus our attention an them, in the third part of this chapter, as they are the most depressed and oppressed people here.

In the third chapter we deal with those attempts that determined the present status of the Church in Madhya Pradesh and in Raipur diocese. In order to provide adequate response to the fundamental considerations we have tried to perceive them in the light of the following questions. How far the Church in Madhya Pradesh and particularly in Raipur diocese reacted to the needs of the poor and marginalised? Is it fully convinced of the holistic liberation and the integral development of the people here? How much the Bishops, Priests, Religious and the Laity in Madhya Pradesh and Raipur diocese are convinced of evangelization as a holistic liberation of the human person?

If the evangelization in Raipur diocese, needs to be fruitful and effective, it should concentrate an the liberation of the poor and the marginalised Satnamis from all sorts of bondage whether it be cultural, religious, social or economical. Experience of the past and encounter with the present should stimulate the missionaries to rethink and search for an alternative model for the future. It means a fresh vision and a new thinking about the mission; a new way of working, organising and relating with the community; and above all reconstructing of the priorities in the realization of evangelization. In order to achieve these goals we like to propose certain pastoral suggestions or we try to outline a project for future missionary endeavour in the fourth chapter of our study. This may help all those who are engaged in the task of evangelization in Raipur diocese. It throws open areas which can be probed further.

In charting the future, we are not led by blind idealism. So in the fifth and the concluding chapter we foresee the obstacles and prospects towards the realization of a total liberation of the poor and the marginalised in India and in Raipur diocese and propose certain practical solutions. The work ends with relevant bibliography and appendixes that were referred in the dissertation.

The work does not claim a complete comprehensibility of the various issues and problems associated with the subject. However, this is only an endeavour to contribute to the area and is perhaps a drop in the immense ocean of knowledge, inviting many more to join in the powerful, flowing currents of social justice, freedom and liberation.

Table of Contents:

	CHAPTER ONE EVANGELIZATION IN INDIA AS THE HOLISTIC LIBERATION OF THE MARGINALISED
1.	THE HOLISTIC LIBERATION OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH	8
1.1	The Prevalent Understanding of Evangelization	8
1.2	Evangelization: Proclamation of the Holistic Liberation	11
1.3	Scriptural Foundation of Holistic Liberation	20
1.4	Option for the Poor and the Church	29
1.5	Evangelization and development	33
2.	THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL OUTLOOK OF GAUDIUM ET SPES AS REGARDS THE HUMAN PERSON AND HUMAN DIGNITY	44
2.1	The Notion of Human dignity	44
2.2	The Notion of Human Person	47
2.3	The General Characteristics of the Anthropology	49
2.4	Human Person is Image of God	55
2.5	Human Person Consists of Body and Soul	60
2.6	Human Person is Situated in Reality	62
2.7	Human Person is Communitarian	64
2.8	Human Person Deserves Equal Respect	68
3.	HOLISTIC LIBERATION IN THE ECCLESIAL CONTEXT OF INDIA	71
3.1	The Indian Catholic Church and the Option for the Poor	74
3.2	Dimensions of Evangelization	79
	CHAPTER TWO SOCIAL REALITY A CONTEXTUAL EVANGELIZATION IN MADHYA PRADESH
1.	SOCIO-POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND RELIGIOUS SITUATION	97
1.1	Socio-Political Situation	98
1.1.1	Communalism	100
1.1.2	The Caste System	105
1.2	Economic Situation	117
1.3	Religious Situation	122
2.	A SEMANTIC VIEW OF MARGINALISATION	133
2.1	The Dalits	135
2.2	The Tribals	145
2.3	The Women	153
3.	THE MARGINALISED SATNAMIS IN RAIPUR DIOCESE	164
3.1	The Chamars of North India	164
3.2	The Satnami Movement	168
3.3	The Satnamis in Raipur Diocese	171
3.3.1	Socio-economic Situation	176
3.3.2	Political Situation	177
3.3.3	Religious Situation	178
	CHAPTER THREE THE CHURCH IN MADHYA PRADESH AND RAIPUR DIOCESE: AN OVERVIEW
1.	THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE CHURCH IN MADHYA PRADESH	180
1.1	The First Catholic Settlement in the State of Madhya Pradesh	181
1.2	Inculturation and Alienation	192
1.3	Pastoral Praxis	196
1.3.1	Education	197
1.3.2	Health Care	198
1.3.3	Lay Participation	198
1.3.4	Youth Organisation	200
1.3.5	Local Finance	201
1.3.6	Media Apostolate	201
1.4	Pastoral Agents	203
2.	PLANS AND REALITY OF EVANGELIZATION IN RAIPUR DIOCESE	208
2.1	Traditional Evangelization and Pastoral Plans	210
2.2	Pastoral Agents	212
2.2.1	Direct Pastoral Agents	213
2.2.2	Educational and Social Agents	217
2.3	Pastoral Praxis	218
2.3.1	Parish Apostolate	221
2.3.2	Promotion of Education	223
2.3.3	Social Welfare and C.R.S Programs	225
2.3.4	Health Care	226
2.3.5	Contact with Other Religions	228
	CHAPTER FOUR PASTORAL OUTLINE FOR A HOLISTIC LIBERATION OF THE SATNAMIS
1.	PRIORITY FOR PROCLAMATION AND REALISATION OF THE SATNAMIS	230
2.	BUILD-UP OF A BASE ECUMENICAL SATNAMY COMMUNITY	231
2.1	Personal Conversion	233
2.2	Role of the Sacraments, and Community building	235
3.	FORMATION OF A RELEVANT SATNAMY THEOLOGY	237
3.1	Conscientization of the Marginalised Satnamis	243
3.2	Advancement of a Satnamy Spirituality	245
3.3	Promotion of Human Dignity and Equality	247
4.	SOLIDARITY WITH THE MARGINALISED SATNAMIS	250
4.1	Sustainable Economical Assistance	255
4.2	Foundation of the Lawyers Guild	256
4.3	Creation of a Public Forum at the Micro Level	257
4.4	Organization of Protest Movements	257
4.5	Centre for Documentation, Legal and Political Action	259
4.6	Assist them to Acquire own Land and Job	259
5.	CREATION OF AWARENESS	261
5.1	Promotion of Education	261
5.2	Raising Awareness among Religious and Priests	267
5.3	Adequate Use of Mass Media	269
5.4	Dialogic Collaboration with Different Religions	270
	CHAPTER FIVE OBSTACLES AND PROSPECTS
1.	THE CHALLENGES BEFORE THE CHURCH IN INDIA	277
1.1	Acceptance Vs Adoption	277
1.2	Reception Vs Reaction	279
1.3	Reluctance Vs Readiness	282
1.4	Change Vs Conventionalism	285
1.5	Participation Vs Protectionism	287
1.6	Decision Vs Dejection	290
1.7	Incorporation Vs Marginalization	291
1.8	Contribution Vs Consumption	293
1.9	Concentration Vs Distribution	294
2.	MAIN CONCERNS OF THE LOCAL CHURCH AT RAIPUR	296
2.1	Conscientization of the Women Folk	296
2.2	Formation of Indigenous Leadership and Spirituality	298
2.3	Necessity of a Re-oriented Solidarity	300
2.4	Need of a Manifesto for Just Action	303
2.5	Redirection of the Services and Personnel	306
2.6	A New Evangelization in the Make-up	309
	BIBLIOGRAPHY	313
	APPENDIX	372