chhotebhai's Writings

  • EMPOWER PARISH COUNCILS, TRANSPARENCY, WOMEN’S ORDINATION

    (A corollary to “Synodality is not an Optional Extra”) The Indian Catholic Forum (ICF) previously gave a synopsis of the papers presented by learned speakers at the recently held “Synodal Church and Secular Society” discernment meet at Kochi, Kerala. Based on the presentations and the deliberations that ensued, the participants proposed a Vision Statement. The…

  • SYNODALITY IS NOT AN OPTIONAL EXTRA

    Synodality (yawn), one would have thought that it was dead and buried with Pope Francis. It’s quite probable that there are many in the church, mostly from among the clergy and hierarchy, who would be happy if that were so. They were distinctly uncomfortable with Synodality and just paid lip service to it. What is…

  • THE GAP WIDENS

    Two recent events have occasioned this piece. The first was the recently concluded Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, and the other was the recent visit of an acquaintance to China. Both are indices of the growing gap between China and India, like the backlog of cases in our courts. I am a sports enthusiast and…

  • GANDHI THE CELIBATE

    It is no coincidence that Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated on 2nd October and the feast of St Francis of Assisi on 4th October. They have much in common, especially their extreme form of renunciation and humility. I am clubbing these two virtues because I don’t think that either of them can stand alone. Renunciation is…

  • SCRIBES SCRIBBLE SCRABBLE SCRAMBLE

    Pardon my penchant for words. On a more serious note, like a moth to the flame, I have a fatal attraction to the Word, the Word made flesh, Jesus, the Word, and “the Word was God” (Jn 1:10). I had been mulling over these thoughts from the 5th September when we celebrated Teacher’s Day. I…

  • QUANTUM OF SORROWS

    August has been a rather depressing and distressing month for me, despite my telling others that we should never give up hope. But this last month could best be described as “My cup of woes brimmeth over”. Some things may sound silly and mundane, but could warrant deeper reflection. For one, I like gardening. I…

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