With a new Pope, an understanding of Catholicism in India

A look at the religious behaviours of Catholics, who form the largest share among all Christian denominations globally and in India

Mohd Arshid

data point

Upon the passing of Pope Francis, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected to succeed him as Pope Leo XIV.

The conclave to elect the new pontiff began on May 7. The election of the Pope takes place through an electoral college composed of Cardinals from around the world. This time, the electoral college included 135 Cardinals from 70 countries, with four Cardinals from India, the country’s highest-ever tally.

Among all Christian denominations, Catholics comprise the largest population, forming 15.9% of the global population and a large share of the Indian Christian population as well. The Vatican is a spiritual symbol for this denomination. In this context, this is an analysis of the Catholic denomination, its religious behaviour, and its demographic share among Indian Christians.

According to data from the PEW Research Center, about 37% of Christians in India are Catholic, 17.9% are Baptist, 9.5% are Presbyterian, and 24.3% belong to other denominations. About 10% of Christians do not affiliate with any denomination (Chart 1).

Chart 2 shows the distribution of Catholics among Christian social groups. It shows that nearly 75% of general category Christians, 16.8% of Scheduled Caste Christians, 23.7% of Christian tribal people, 55.5% of Other Backward Classes Christians, and 23.5% of Christians from the Most Backward Classes are Catholic.

Though the majority of Indian Catholics belong to upper castes, for the first time, a Dalit, Anthony Poola, the Archbishop of Hyderabad, was among the four Indian cardinals who voted for the new Pope. He was appointed as a cardinal in 2022 by Pope Francis.

Map 3 shows the State-wise share of Catholics within the total Christian population of each State. A State marked as zero indicates that it has Christians, but no Catholics. A majority of the Christian population in Nagaland and Mizoram is Catholic. In Meghalaya, it is 90.8% and in Goa, it is 58.7%.

To measure aggregate religiosity in India, I developed an Aggregate Religiosity Index that captures the religiosity of all major religious groups in India from 1989 to 2023, based on 15 indicators. The findings reveal that all religious groups in India exhibit high levels of religiosity. Tables 4 and 5 provide a breakdown of the most recent religiosity levels (in % terms) among Christian denominations across selected indicators.

More than 90% of Catholic respondents consider religion important, believe in God and participate in religious festivals (Table 4). Public expressions of faith, such as wearing a religious pendant (74.6%) and attending services (59.9%), are also common. However, only a small proportion (11.2%) actively follows religious leaders. This suggests that while personal religiosity remains high, institutional influence may be limited.

Table 5 presents the social, democratic, and economic behaviour of Indian Christians. The first column corresponds to Catholics.

Within Christianity, Catholics exhibit a comparatively softer attitude towards religion than Presbyterians and Christians who do not affiliate with any denomination. Even Baptists and Christians from other denominations are stricter than Catholics when it comes to opposing inter-religious marriages. Catholics tend to have higher literacy levels compared to members of all other Christian denominations except Presbyterians.

Mohd Arshid is a research scholar studying the political economy of religion in India at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, JNU, New Delhi

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Madras High Court Statutory Body To Regulate Church Property

The Madras High Court has suggested bringing in a statutory body to regulate the affairs of the church and church properties, similar to the charitable endowments of Hindus and Muslims.

The court was hearing a plea by a man against a Bishop's decision staying his appointment as Secretary-Correspondent of an autonomous christian college, and wherein the Bishop had appointed himself as Correspondent in-charge. 

Justice N Satish Kumar noted that matters of trusts, trustees, charities and religious endowments and religious institutions fall under the Concurrent list and thus there was no bar for the Central Government or the State government to bring in a legislation to this effect.

The court added that a Statutory Board could be established to make the institutions more accountable and to regulate their affairs. The court also noted that while "charitable endowments of Hindus and Muslims are subject to statutory regulation" however no such comprehensive regulation exists for endowments of Christians; the only scrutiny/oversight over the affairs of these institutions is by way of a suitunder Section 92 CPC.

“ Trusts & trustees, charities & charitable institutions, charitable & religious endowments & religious institutions fall under List III (Concurrent List) in Schedule VII of the Constitution of India. As there is no Central Legislation holding the field, there cannot be any embargo for the Union or the State Governments to bring about a legislation in the light of the circumstances prevalent in this regard. For to make the institution more accountable, there must be a Statutory Board to regulate the affairs of the administration and the learned Senior Counsel appearing for both sides have no quarrel on these issues,” the court observed.

The court noted that of late, there was an increase in litigations related to church properties where the courts have observed mismanagement of church properties and its funds. The court added that since these institutions were involved in public functions in the form of educational institutions, hospitals etc and since their functioning would affect the public at large, it was necessary to protect and safeguard the assets and funds of the institutions.

“ This Court has seen various instance of mismanagement and misuse of the Church properties and it funds. Several matters are litigated before this Court either as petitions under Article 226 of the Constitution of India or by way of suits under Section 92 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. Judicial notice can easily be taken note of the fact that filing of these type of cases become yearly affair with rival factions belonging to various Churches litigating against each other. To strengthen the positions, in the administration, only the Church funds have been used in all the litigations. The Churches not only have the vast properties but also educational institutions. In the process, the institutions which these persons ie., the so called elected persons, who are said to be helm of affairs, are supposed to protect and safeguard suffer administratively and financially as their funds are drained to fuel the power struggle. To alleviate this problem, it is a regular practice of this Court in appointing Administrators in the litigation of various Diocese from time to time as a temporary measure. Therefore, this Court is of the view that, it is high time that a permanent solution is required. It cannot be lost sight that these institutions performed and discharged several public functions like running educational institutions, hospital etc., which affect the public at large. Their assets and funds require protection and must be safeguarded,” the court said.

The court thus suo motu impleaded the Ministry of Home Affairs, Union of India and the Chief Secretary to Government, State of Tamil Nadu to explain their stand in this regard.

Background

The court was hearing a plea by one Byju Nizeth Paul challenging an order of the Bishop- Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Kanyakumari Diocese of Church of South India through which his appointment as the Secretary-Correspondent of the Scott Christian College (Autonomous), Nagercoil was stayed. The Bishop had also assumed charge as Correspondent in charge of the College.

The petitioner argued that as per Part II Rule (XI) of the CSI Constitution, the bishop could stay the proceedings of the Executive Council only if the resolution was against the Constitution and Practice of the Diocese. He pointed out that the rules were not properly exercised. He added that the decision was taken based on complaints made by 12 Assistant Professors whose applications were not forwarded by him, while he was working as Secretary, which were put against the petitioner.

On the other hand, the Bishop argued that the action was in consonance with the Constitution of the CSI Kanyakumari Diocese and thus, interference was not warranted.

The court, however observed while the Constitution gave powers to the Bishop to stay the proceedings, such a provision could not be given expansive construction. The court noted that the constitution did not authorise the Bishop to assume extra power and thus he could not assume charge of Correspondent in charge.

The court also noted that as per the Constitution, the Bishop was to place the matter before the higher body in the next meeting. The court noted that the decision of whether petitioner's selection was against the Constitution was to be decided by the Diocesan Council and thus, the Bishop was directed to call for a Diocesan Council meeting within 2 months which could take a decision after hearing the petitioner.

"The stay granted by this Court by an order dated 02.08.2024 in respect of the proceedings by which, the Bishop had appointed himself as Correspondent in-charge is extended until further orders. Similarly, the interim order passed by this Court dated 28.08.2024 is also extended until further orders. The Diocesan Council shall decide the issue within a period of two months," it added.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Mad) 448

Case Title: Byju Nizeth Paaul v The Directorate of Collegiate Education and Others

Case No: WP(MD) 17949 of 2024

Click here to read/download the order