Fr John Fernandes Receives International Haag Prize 2007 in Switzerland

Special report from Barbara Roeber, Berlin

July 25, 2007

Herbert-Haag Prize 2007 was awarded in Lucerne, Switzerland recently first time to an Indian, Fr John Fernandes, along with a Swiss Theologian, Xaver Pfister and the Swiss Organization “Bethlehem Mission Immensee”. The award ceremony held in Hotel “Schweizerhof” was attended by about 300 people.

Hans Küng – opening words 

E Koller,  Fr J Fernandes and H Küng, as the award is presented

          The medal 

Fr John Fernandes needs no introduction as the professor and head of Chair in Christian Studies at the Mangalore University, Mangalore. 

As reported earlier (daijiworld.com on June 4), the Herbert Haag-Foundation ‘for Freedom in the Church’ awards recognition prizes to persons and institutions who exposed themselves through free expression of opinion or courageous actions within Christianity.

      Festive speech

      X Pfister with recipients of the award,  Fr J Fernandes and S Gähwiler         
                   

‘A common vision’

Hans Küng, an internationally renowned theologian, former colleague of Pope Benedict XVI and author of “Declaration toward a Global Ethic”, who is also the president of the Haag-Foundation, in his opening address, analyzing the present situation of the world and Catholic Church, said: “The renewal of the Church should start from the grass-oots and be carried forward by individuals, as it often happened throughout history. The recipients of the Award are recognized by the Foundation as such people today.”

Erwin Koller, a well-known Swiss TV-journalist and theologian, presenting the first awardee, Fr John Fernandes, said: “The awardee combines in an exemplary way the inter-religious dialogue between Hindus, Muslims and Jains with his commitment for a new form of the Church in India which is dialogical in its basic attitude, open to the Indian culture, oriented towards Human Rights and is in solidarity with the struggle for justice, peace and environmental protection.”

After receiving the award, Fr John Fernandes held the festive speech on behalf of the three awardees: “Eine freie Kirche im Dienst der Befreiung der Menschen” (“A free Church at the Service of Liberation of Human Beings”). He outlined the main features of a Local Church which should realize its freedom through inculturation and a contextual praxis. This leads to a Theology of Liberation in the Indian Context. It is a Theology which is committed to integral liberation of humankind from injustice, inequality and all other bondages. This has to be an inter-religious project. In order to fulfil this task, the Christian community has to first experience freedom within itself.

Xaver Pfister and the representative of “Bethlehem Mission Immensee” expressed their words of thanks. Pfister pleaded for a renewal of the Church through equal participation by the Laity. Sepp Gähwiler presented the main thrust of the “Bethlehem Mission” as an example of such an equality in the service of the liberating mission of all Christians.

Herbert N. Haag, nephew of late Herbert Haag, spoke the concluding words of thanks.

Earlier report:

Fr John Fernandes Chosen for Herbert Haag Prize 2007 from Switzerland