Publications

Asian Catholic Women

Movements, Mission, and Vision

Studying the various movements among women in the Catholic Church in Asia, the author argues that the preexisting male-dominated church rooted in the colonial era is now being challenged to recentralize itself and exercises an inclusive and participatory ecclesiology in which women should become fuller members of the church and participate in the decision-making processes of the church. For only when the church in Asia discovers and recognizes the richness of women’s potential, leadership, charisma, and vision, will it be able to witness to the Gospel values and fulfill its vision of mission in Asia. The author shows that Asian Catholic women have played and continue to play a crucial role in designing and carrying out multiple areas of the church’s ministries that men failed to do. Furthermore, the author shows that through the interactions and dialogue with Asian bishops in recent decades, Asian Catholic women have gradually influenced the Asian bishops’ consciousness of women’s issues and concerns. 

Resistance, Negotiation and Development: The Roman Catholic Church in Vietnam, 1954–2010

This article discusses the efforts of the Roman Catholic Church in Vietnam to negotiate with the socialist government from 1954 to 2010. It analyses the different dynamics and approaches employed by the Church in the north and south of Vietnam to respond to political pressure. Viewed within a larger context, Rome during these decades played a significant role in shaping the political views of the Vietnamese hierarchy as well as inspiring them to make important choices in the midst of tension and conflict. The article argues that though caught in a complex social and political situation, the Church in Vietnam has continued to thrive and managed gradually to exert its place in Vietnamese society.

The Vision of Asian Women for Interreligious Dialogue

This article discusses a special way in which Asian Catholic women have envisioned their roles in the religiously pluralistic context of Asia. By engaging in dialogue with other religions through service, inter-faith marriage, and collaboration with non-Christian women for women’s liberation, these women have used their special gifts in communicating with other women to bring about a change in relationships among people of other religions. In addition, Asian women’s theological reflection on interreligious dialogue helps enrich the church’s understanding of their role in building a relationship between the church and Asian religions.

Quan Am and Mary: Vietnamese Religious, Cultural, and Spiritual Phenomena

TBD