Guwahati, India – The Canon Law Society of India (CLSI) recently inaugurated its 37th annual conference in the northeastern city of Guwahati, marking a significant first for the event in this region since the society’s inception in 1987. Over 130 participants including canon lawyers, priests, and religious sisters gathered to deliberate on the theme “Penal Sanctions in the Church,” critiquing and exploring the disciplinary structures within the church’s legal framework.
The event commenced with an invocation by Father Selvaraj from the Bongaigaon Diocese who called for divine wisdom in deepening the understanding of God’s justice among the attendees. This spiritual beginning set the tone for a conference deeply anchored in theological and legal reflections.
Bishop Albert Hemrom, the head of the Canon Law Commission for the Northeast Bishops’ Council, provided a warm reception, presenting attendees with traditional Garo bags and Assamese gamosas, symbolizing the rich cultural embrace of the Northeast.
A significant highlight of the opening ceremony was a video message from Cardinal Oswald Gracias, a founder of the CLSI, who, from Rome, underscored the importance of staying current with the recent changes in Church penal law and applied compassion. His message resonated with the conference’s focus, emphasizing the need for a balanced, just, and empathetic approach in the administration of Church law.
Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati delivered the keynote address, discussing the vital role of penal sanctions in the Church. He underscored the necessity of aligning penalties with pastoral guidance and correction, pointing out that the intent behind disciplinary measures should focus on spiritual rehabilitation rather than mere punishment. Moolachira referenced Pope Francis’ recent updates to Book VI of the Code of Canon Law, highlighting reforms aimed at restoring justice, rehabilitating offenders, and addressing the exigencies arising from scandals.
Furthering this perspective, Archbishop Linus Nelli from Imphal discussed the evolution of the Church’s approach towards penal sanctions. Noting the significant reduction in penalties since the 1917 code revision, Nelli emphasized how the Church’s contemporary legal drafts favor a reparative and salvific purpose, endorsing a system that harmonizes justice with overarching pastoral care.
The discourse at the conference revealed a shift towards a more therapeutic and reformative approach in the ecclesiastical adjudication processes, reflecting a broader movement within global religious communities towards inclusivity and remediation.
Sessions following the keynotes concentrated on practical applications and the challenges of implementing the new penal norms, providing canon lawyers and church authorities insights into better governance of their congregations.
The conference not only fostered an academic and spiritual exchange on pressing issues of canon law but also evidenced the Indian Church’s proactive endeavors to align more closely with contemporary global ecclesiastical practices.
As the sessions drew to a close, the consensus among the participants leaned heavily on the necessity for continuous education and adaptation of church law to reflect the changing dynamics of society and faith, aiming for a justice system within the Church that is as merciful as it is stringent.