Clarifications issued on seminary, bishops and liturgy debates

Bangalore Archbishop seeks to correct misconceptions on priestly formation, episcopal appointments and vernacular worship, urging unity and informed discussion across Karnataka’s Catholic community amid renewed public debate.

BENGALURU, Karnataka (Indian Catholic News)  — The Archbishop of Bangalore has issued a clarification on priestly formation, episcopal appointments and liturgical language, seeking to address renewed debate within the Church and ensure the faithful are “rightly informed”.

“As certain issues pertaining to the formation of priests, pastoral leadership and the language of worship are once again sought to be raised, it is necessary to clarify these matters, so that all concerned are rightly informed,” Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore said in a statement issued March 27.

The statement comes amid discussions in Karnataka over the possible establishment of a regional seminary, the selection of bishops and the use of language in the liturgy.

Archbishop Machado is also president of the Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops’ Conference (KRCBC) that coordinates the Catholic Church’s mission across Karnataka. The KRCBC coordinates the Catholic Church’s mission across Karnataka, bringing together 14 dioceses of the Latin, Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara rites under the leadership of the Archbishop of Bangalore.

Seminary status and governance

Addressing calls for a regional seminary, the archbishop said the proposal “deserves careful consideration” and is being studied by the Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops’ Conference (KRCBC), but cautioned against misconceptions surrounding existing institutions.

“Contrary to the mistaken belief in some quarters, the land on which St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute now stands was not exactly a gift, but was purchased by the Paris Foreign Missions Society,” the statement said, noting the decision was taken when the seminary was shifted from Puducherry to Bengaluru.

He further stressed that the institute’s current status places it beyond local jurisdiction. “Being currently a Pontifical Institute, it’s status, structure and governance are solely within the competence of the Holy See,” he said.

The archbishop also rejected identity-based criteria for ecclesiastical institutions, stating, “The Church never establishes seminaries on the basis of language, caste or ethnicity.”

Appointment of bishops

Turning to the appointment of bishops, the statement emphasised both pastoral sensitivity and universal norms guiding the Church.

“While a Bishop should certainly be fluent in the language spoken by a majority of his flock and preferably conversant with also other languages spoken by the Catholics in his Diocese, the Church does not choose Bishops solely on the basis of language, caste or ethnicity,” the archbishop said.

He reiterated that the selection process ultimately rests with the Vatican. “The Bishops in the Region can only recommend prospective candidates as they have always been doing and will continue to do, but the final decision is entirely in the hands of the Pope,” he said.

Acknowledging local sentiment, the statement added, “The members of the KRCBC will certainly respect the desire expressed that more Kannadigas be recommended for the mission of leadership of dioceses in Karnataka.”

However, he underlined that broader criteria apply: “The Holy See has a clear and comprehensive profile of a prospective Bishop, and will select only those whom the Holy Father deems to be best fitting that profile.”

Vernacular liturgy explained

On the question of liturgical language, the archbishop said confusion persists about the teaching of the Second Vatican Council.

“There would seem to be some confusion about what the Second Vatican Council meant when it permitted liturgy to be celebrated in the vernacular,” he said.

Clarifying the principle, he added: “The intention of the Council was that the worshipping congregation should understand the words spoken and the prayers said during the liturgy, so as to ensure the widest possible active participation by the congregation.”

He explained that “the word ‘Vernacular’ means the language of the majority of the worshipping congregation, and not necessarily the official language of the State.”

While affirming respect for Kannada, the statement balanced pastoral realities. “Wherever possible, Kannada will be used for congregational worship without let or hindrance, but only when a majority of the members of the worshipping congregation are at home in Kannada,” he said.

The archbishop stressed that the Council’s directive remains paramount: “The directive of Vatican II to celebrate the liturgy in the language of the worshiping congregation is always respected.”

Concluding, he expressed hope for unity. “It is hoped that these clarifications will contribute to a better understanding of the issues being debated so that peace prevails and fraternity flourishes in the local Church,” the statement said.