View source for All India Catholic Union

{{Short description|Indian Catholics}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
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| group         = All India Catholic Union
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| region1       =  India
| pop1          = 16 million<ref name=MilliG200410/>
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| religions     = [[Catholic Church]]
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| website       = [http://aicu.in/ aicu.in]
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{{Christianity}} 
The '''All India Catholic Union''' ('''AICU''') represents almost 16 million [[Catholic Church|Catholics]] in India: followers of the [[Latin Church]], the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church|Syro-Malabar Catholics]] and the [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Church|Syro-Malankara Catholics]]. It has 120 diocese and district units.<ref name=MilliG200410/> The AICU was established in 1930.

==History==
Plans for an organised union of Catholic laity were discussed at the All India Catholic Conference in 1919.
<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.cjponline.org/SBArrest/AICU%20protest.pdf¨
 |publisher=Citizens for Justice and Peace 
 |title=ALL INDIA CATHOLIC UNION 
 |access-date=5 March 2012 
}}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> 
The All India Catholic League was formed in 1930 (with [[C. J. Varkey, Chunkath]] as Secretary<ref>[http://cs.nyu.edu/kandathi/c_j_varkey.html C. J. Varkey, Chunkath] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606161624/http://cs.nyu.edu/kandathi/c_j_varkey.html |date=6 June 2012 }}</ref>) and sponsored the All India Catholic Congress at [[Pune]] in 1934.
The body was named the Catholic Union of India in 1944, with Professor M. Ratnaswamy of [[Anna Malai University]] as the first National President.
The Catholic Union of India was registered at Chennai in 1966, and later changed its name to the All India Catholic Union.<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://aicuindia.org/history.html
 |title        = History
 |publisher    = All India Catholic Union
 |access-date   = 8 April 2012
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120209211034/http://aicuindia.org/history.html
 |archive-date = 9 February 2012
 |url-status     = dead
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref>

On 30 October 1945, the [[All India Conference of Indian Christians]] (AICIC), which had both Protestant and Catholic members, formed a joint committee with the Catholic Union of India that passed a resolution stating that, "in the future constitution of India, the profession, practice and propagation of religion should be guaranteed and that a change of religion should not involve any civil or political disability."<ref name="Thomas1974">{{cite book |last1=Thomas |first1=Abraham Vazhayil |title=Christians in Secular India |date=1974 |publisher=Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press |isbn=978-0-8386-1021-3 |page=106-110 |language=en}}</ref> This joint committee enabled the Christians in India to stand united, and in front of the British Parliamentary Delegation "the committee members unanimously supported the move for independence and expressed complete confidence in the future of the community in India."<ref name="Thomas1974"/> The office for this joint committee was opened in [[Delhi]], in which the Vice-Chancellor of [[Andhra University]] M. Rahnasamy served as President and B.L. Rallia Ram of [[Lahore]] served as General Secretary.<ref name="Thomas1974"/> Six members of the joint committee were elected to the [[Constituent Assembly of India|Minorities Committee of the Constituent Assembly of India]].<ref name="Thomas1974"/> In its meeting on 16 April 1947 and 17 April 1947, the joint committee of the All India Conference of Indian Christians and All India Catholic Union prepared a 13 point memorandum that was sent to the Constituent Assembly, which asked for [[religious freedom]] for both organisations and individuals; this came to be reflected in the Constitution of India.<ref name="Thomas1974"/>

Following the partition of India, the Catholic Union of India granted independence to its branches in Sind and Baluchistan in its Second Annual General Meeting in Bangalore in October 1947, which was presided by Ruthnasamy.<ref>{{cite news |title=Partition Affects Catholic Union Of India |publisher=Indian Daily Mail |date=21 November 1947 |location=Bangalore |language=en |quote=A resolution that, in view of the partition of India into two separate Dominions and the result of the Catholic Associations of Sind and Baluchistan--the only associations, in Pakistan affiliated to the Catholic Union--to sever its connection with the Union, the jurisdiction and activities of the Union be confined to the Dominion of India and necessary amendments be made in the Constitution was passed at the Second Annual General Meeting of the Catholic Union of India held at St. Joseph's College Hall, Civil Area, last week. Mr. Ruthnasamy, President of the Union was in the chair.}}</ref>

==Presidents of the All India Catholic Union==
Presidents of the Union have included Prof. M. Ratnaswamy, Madras, 
Chev. A. Soares, Bombay, 
Chev. J. C. Rayon, Bangalore, 
Chev. D. V. D. Monte, Madras, 
Chev. G. S. Reddy, Hyderabad, 
Mr. George Menezes, Bombay (1986–90),
Mr. [[Chhotebhai]], Kanpur (1990–94),
Mr. [[Peter Marbaniang]], Shillong (1994–96), 
Mr. [[Norbert D'Souza]], Pune (1996–2000),
Dr. [[Maria Emilia Menezes]] (2000–2004)<ref name=selfofficebearers/>

==Dayal presidency==

[[John Dayal]] was elected president of the Union on 20 September 2004, succeeding Dr [[Maria Emilia Menezes]].<ref name=MilliG200410/>
In 2005 Dayal expressed concern that [[Ekal Vidyalaya]] ("single teacher") schools run by the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) Hindu nationalist organisation were spreading hatred towards members of the Christian minority.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url=http://in.christiantoday.com/articles/aicu-president-suspects-hindu-charitable-trust-of-forming-antichristian-schools-for-indian-tribals/156.htm
 |work=Christian Today
 |title=AICU president suspects Hindu charitable trust of forming anti–Christian schools for Indian tribals
 |author=Jacob Chaterjee
 |date=19 July 2005
 |access-date=5 March 2012
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824032549/http://in.christiantoday.com/articles/aicu-president-suspects-hindu-charitable-trust-of-forming-antichristian-schools-for-indian-tribals/156.htm
 |archive-date=24 August 2013
 |url-status=dead
 }}
</ref>
In May 2006 the union called on State and Central governments to take urgent action to protect the Christian community following escalating violence in states controlled by the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) and allied parties, including armed demonstrations by the RSS.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/407/47/
 |title       = Hyderabad Meeting of Catholic Union Working committee demands security, economic development for Christians in India
 |date        = 8 May 2006
 |publisher   = All India Christian Council
 |access-date  = 5 March 2012
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110509103443/http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/407/47/
 |archive-date = 9 May 2011
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>

In December 2007 the AICU petitioned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's to intervene and stop the attacks that were being made against Christians in the [[Phulbani]] area of [[Orissa, India|Orissa]].
According to their memo: "The official apathy, the police indifference and the freedom allowed to marauding bands of Hindutva fanatics and armed thugs in Gujarat has been repeated in Orissa in what is a planned conspiracy against the church and our faith".  The AICU said that recent attacks could not have occurred "without the complicity of the official machinery and the backing of powerful political groups".<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/27/stories/2007122760461000.htm
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227233904/http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/27/stories/2007122760461000.htm
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date=27 December 2007
 |title=Catholic forum's plea to Manmohan
 |date=27 December 2007|work=[[The Hindu]]
 |access-date=5 March 2012}}</ref>

==Denis presidency==

Dr. [[Remy Denis]] became president in 2008.<ref name=selfofficebearers/>
Denis has taken a somewhat radical position in saying that the clergy should confine itself to ministering to the spiritual needs of the people. Administration of the material goods of the church should be left entirely to the laity.<ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.cbcisite.com/cbcinews4092.htm
 |work        = Catholic Bishops' Conference of India
 |title       = Modern Pastoral Challenges
 |date        = 3 November 2009
 |author      = Averthanus L. D'Souza
 |access-date  = 8 April 2012
 |url-status     = usurped
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100305172834/http://www.cbcisite.com/cbcinews4092.htm
 |archive-date = 5 March 2010
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>
At a seminar in Goa in August 2009, former Union minister [[Eduardo Faleiro]] said that church property should be brought under the ambit of state laws, as was the case with other religions.  This was endorsed by Remy Denis and other liberals.  However John Dayal, representing the conservatives in the AICU, opposed any change. He said that the "Christian situation" was radically and materially different from that of the Hindu, Muslim and Sikh religions, and existing laws were sufficient.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/17952/conservatives-oppose-call-church-assets.html
 |title=Conservatives oppose call for Church assets reforms
 |author=Devika Sequeira
 |work=Deccan Herald
 |date=5 August 2009|access-date=8 April 2012}}</ref>

In February 2012 the AICU announced that it had started planning for a Laity Synod, to be held later in the year.  This would be the first time such an event had been arranged in India. It would give the lay members an opportunity to think about their role in the church and the future of the church.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-05/goa/31026404_1_church-vatican-faith
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103080614/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-05/goa/31026404_1_church-vatican-faith
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date=3 January 2013
 |title=Catholic Union to announce dates of first Laity Synod soon
 |date=5 February 2012|work=[[The Times of India]]
 |access-date=5 March 2012}}</ref>
According to Remy Denis "The Second Vatican Council called for the empowerment of the laity. But after 50 years, there is not much to show".
It was hoped that the synod would help find ways for the laity to become more involved in management of the financial and temporal affairs of the church.<ref>{{cite web
 |url        = http://www.anglicanjournal.com/nc/other/news-items/archive/2011/05/article/indias-catholics-plan-first-synod-for-lay-people-9780//abp/167.html
 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130117165709/http://www.anglicanjournal.com/nc/other/news-items/archive/2011/05/article/indias-catholics-plan-first-synod-for-lay-people-9780//abp/167.html
 |url-status   = dead
 |archive-date = 17 January 2013
 |work       = Anglican Journal
 |title      = India's Catholics plan first synod for lay people
 |author     = ANTO AKKARA
 |date       = 24 May 2011
 |access-date = 8 April 2012
}}</ref>

==References==
<references>
<ref name=MilliG200410>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/2004/01-15Oct04-Print-Edition/011510200489.htm
 |work=The Milli Gazette
 |date=1–15 Oct 2004 
 |title=John Dayal elected All India Catholic Union National president 
 |access-date=5 March 2012}}</ref>
<ref name=selfofficebearers>{{cite web
 |url          = http://aicuindia.org/officebearers.html
 |publisher    = All India Catholic Union
 |title        = Office Bearers
 |access-date   = 8 April 2012
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20121220120901/http://aicuindia.org/officebearers.html
 |archive-date = 20 December 2012
 |url-status     = dead
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref>
</references>

== External links ==
*[http://aicu.in/ All India Catholic Union]
{{Christianity in Kerala}}
{{Authority Control}}
[[Category:Catholic lay organisations]]
[[Category:Catholicism in India]]
[[Category:Christian organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1930]]
[[Category:1930 establishments in India]]