A Comparative Study of Orientalium Ecclesiarum 24-29 and Unitatis Redintegratio 14-18 and the Reception of the Conciliar View on the Relations with the Eastern Churches in the Indian Catholic Church

The study of ecumenism has been an integral part of the Catholic Church after the Second Vatican Council and we have come to recognise that ecumenism is no more “some sort of appendix” to the life of the Church rather, “it is an organic part of her life and work” (Ut Unum Sint, 20). Inspired by this insight, this research is an attempt to discover the fruits of ecumenism with the Oriental Churches in India over the last five decades. This research project consists of three main sections. The first section will focus on the Catholic understanding of the Churches of the East in the decade before the Council began, the redaction history of Orientalium Ecclesiarum (24-29) and Unitatis Redintegratio (14-18) and a comparative study of these two important documents of the Second Vatican Council on relations with the Eastern churches. Secondly, this project will discover the theological and historical reception of OE 24-29 and UR 14-18 in the Ecumenical directories, the Code of Canons for the Oriental Churches, and in the papal encyclicals after the Second Vatican Council. The last part of the esearch will deal with the reception history of these two decrees in the Indian Catholic Church and aims to propose certain prospects for the continuous faithful reception of these decrees which will make a positive impact not only in the ecclesial level but also on the socio-political life of the people in India.