| The inspiration to undertake a scientific canonical study on the pastoral care of refugees came from the plight of thousands of Tamils from Sri Lanka who took refuge in the State of Tamil Nadu in India from 1983. A large number of them were Catholics and it was apparent from their way of life that the spirit of Catholicism was deeply entrenched in them. Because of their deep Catholic faith and their unique situation, the Catholic Church has a grave obligation to offer them special pastoral care. The purpose of this dissertation, therefore, is to address this pastoral situation, and examine critically some theoretical, pastoral and structural issues that might enable pastors of the Church to minister to Tamil refugees in accord with their emotional, psychological, spiritual, social and economic needs. Up to now there has not been any major study specifically on the pastoral care of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu, India.;This dissertation contains four chapters which reflect four inter-related issues. The first chapter considers the historical and sociological background of the Sri Lankan Tamil refugee problem. The second chapter deals with the Catholic Church's teaching on the pastoral care of displaced persons, with special reference to refugees. The third chapter examines the canonical aspects of pastoral care of refugees in light of the canons of CIC 1983 and the norms of the Pontifical Council's recent Instruction, Erga migrantes caritas Christi: The Love of Christ towards Migrants. Wherever applicable, we also try to refer to those canons of the Eastern Code (CCEO) which have relevance to the care of refugees. The fourth chapter looks at the current pastoral care received by the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in the State of Tamil Nadu and offers concrete recommendations to the Church in Tamil Nadu for a more effective pastoral care of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.;The Church in Tamil Nadu has faced and continues to face many practical problems in attending to this enormous refugee problem. The Church has been generous in its service to Tamil refugees. However, the Church can improve its ministry further by establishing special canonical structures suitable for the effective pastoral care of displaced people irrespective of their origin.;In light of the recent developments that have taken place in Sri Lanka, it is our hope that all pastors and the Christian faithful of Tamil Nadu will continue to offer appropriate pastoral care to those Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who are still living in camps in the State. Such an attitude on the part of all concerned, we believe, is absolutely necessary for the success of any pastoral programme designed to promote and foster the all-round well-being of all refugees.;The principal method we use in this study is analytical in nature. We will review certain historical-sociological factors relating to the current Sri Lankan Tamil refugee phenomenon. But the central question of our inquiry concerns the pastoral care of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu. The historical facts and various sources, such as papal constitutions, and Roman instructions, decrees and laws, the documents of the Second Vatican Council, and both Codes of Canon Law, are the focus of our analysis. |
