Arokiasamy Soosai SJ

Professor of Moral Theology
Has been teaching since July 1978. Emeritus since 2002.

Vidyajyoti College of Theology
4-A, Raj Niwas Marg
Delhi 110054
India.
Telephone: +91-11-23943556, 23947609
Email: samyvj@gmail.com

Academic Qualifications

• Licentiate in Philosophy and Theology in India.
• M.Sc. (Botany) in the University of Madras.
• Ph.D. in Moral Theology from the Gregorian University, Rome, in 1977.  His doctoral dissertation was on:  Dharma, Hindu and Christian According to Roberto de Nobili published in Studia Missionalia Series, Gregoriana in 1985.

Subjects Taught At Vidyajyoti

• Moral Theology
• Theology of Marriage and Sexual Ethics
• Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing
• Guides students’ research at the M.Th. and Ph.D. level

Teaching Experience at Other Faculties

• Examiner for doctoral dissertations on moral theological themes at the University of Madras

Areas of Specialization and Interest

• Fundamental Moral Theology — inculturation of morals and theological method in context

Publications

• Edited a few books related to moral issues and broader issues of theology in the Indian context Written articles on themes of Moral Theology and contextual method of theologizing in India. This section is being developed and will be posted soon.

Articles

1. “Ethical Perspectives on HIV-AIDS Pandemic”, Vaiharai, 10 (2006): 106-123.
2. “Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Healing in Relational Perspective”, in Wounded History Ed. John Chathanatt and Manindra N. Thakur, Delhi. Media House. 2006. pp. 187-200.
3. “Challenges and Opportunities of Inter-Religious Dialogue in Inter-faith Marriages” in Co-Worker for Your Joy, edited by S.Painadath and Leonard Fernando S.J. Delhi: Vidyajyoti College/ISPCK, 2006, pp. 246-266.
4. “Human Rights in the Perspective of Developing Countries” in Puthulakam Pataikave (Tamil) edited by X.D. Selvaraj, Dindigul: Vaiharai Publications, 2006, pp. 87-97.
5. “Bishop in the Local Church” in The Service of Mission: Studies in Honour of Archbishop Thomas Menaparampil, edited by Thomas Manjaly, et al., Shillong: Oriens Publications, 2006, pp.306-321.
6. “Morality of Contraception and Sterilization” in Reproductive Health: Catholic Ethics and Praxis in India, edited by Alex Vadakumthala, Delhi: Health Commission/Media House, 2007, pp.114-122.
7. “De Nobili-Lessons from a Pioneering Missionary” in Fr De Nobili: A Trend Setter, edited by Ignatius Puthiadam Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation, 2007, pp. 36-42.
8. “The Word Growing in the Field”, Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Reflection, 71 (2007) pp. 611-623.
9. “Development of Theological Language in the Context of Encounter with Cultures and Religions” in Interculturation of Religion, edited by C. Joe Arun, Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation, 2007, pp. 53-67.

Seminars and Conferences

1. Presented a paper entitled “Development of Theological Language in the Context of Encounter with Cultures and Religions” at a seminar organised by IDCR. Loyola College, Chennai, 2005.
2. Presented a paper on “Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Healing in the Social Mission of the Church in Relational Perspective” at a seminar organised by IDCR on the Theme: Healing as Mission, 2005.
3. Presented a paper on “Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Healing in Relational Perspective” in a seminar on “Wounded History and Social Healing in South Asia” organised by Vidyajyoti and University of Delhi, 2006.
4. Presented the Concept paper on “Sharing Hope for a New World” for the Fifth Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS V), 2006.
5. Presented a paper on “De Nobili- Lessons from a Pioneering Missionary” in a seminar on De Nobili organised by Dhyana Ashram, 2006.
6. Presented a paper on “Challenges and Opportunities of Inter-Religious Dialogue in Inter-faith Marriages,” in the Third Bishops’ Institute for Theological Animation (BITA III) organised by the Office for Theological Concerns of FABC in May, 2006 in Hong Kong. The theme of the BITA was: “Inter-faith Marriages in the Pluralistic Context of Asia: Challenges, Theological Reflections, and Pastoral Approaches.”
7. Presented a paper on “Morality of Contraception and Sterilization,” in a seminar organised by CBCI Commission for Health Care on Reproductive Health – Catholic Ethics and Praxis in Nov., 2006.
8. Participated as a member of the organizing Committee in the South Asian Colloquium on “Justice and Peace” organised by CBCI Commission for Justice, peace and Development at NBCLC, Bangalore in August, 2007 and served as a redactor of the conclusions of the colloquium.
9. Presented a paper on “Moral pedagogy for Service of Youth based on Person-centred Relational Ethos,” in the Annual Meeting of Moral Theologians of India, 2007.
10. Presented a paper on “Natural Moral Law and the Concept of Dharma in De Nobili’s Encounter with Hinduism,” in a seminar on Natural Law organised by Dharmaram College, Bangalore, 2007.
11. Organized 6 colloquia of bishops and theologians. Member, Organizing Committee for the World Conference of Catholic Theological Ethicists from 2003 till 2006 when the first assembly of the World Conference of Catholic Moral Theologians was held in Padova, Italy in July 2006. Resource Person at 3 Plenary Assemblies and 2 General Assemblies of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC) and presented position papers.

Other Offices

• Editor of the Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Reflection for the past 22 years.
• Former Principal of the Faculty for 2 terms (1982-83 and 1987-88) and Director of Post-Graduate Studies till April 2006.
• President of the Association of Moral Theologians of India for 8 years.
• Secretary of the Commission for Clergy and Religious and Doctrinal Commission of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) for 13 years till Sept. 2003.
• Secretary for Theological and Doctrinal Commission of Latin Bishops Conference of India (CCBI) for 1 term.
• Member of the Office for Theological Concerns (OTC) of FABC for 7 years.

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