Indian archbishop and priest among consultors in Pontifical Council for Legislative
Texts
(July 28, 2008) An Archbishop and a priest from India are among 8 new consultors
that Pope Benedict appointed to the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.
They are Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur of the Syro-Malabar rite, and Fr.
Varghese Koluthara, the Carmelite of Mary Immaculate provincial of India. The Pontifical
Council for Legislative Texts forms part of the Roman Curia, which is group of dicasteries
or departments and bodies that assist the Pope in the exercise of his supreme pastoral
office for the good and in service of the Church throughout the world and of the particular
Churches. The council was established in 1917 by Pope Benedict XV as Pontifical Commission
for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law. The name of the department
was changed several times until Pope John Paul in 1989 raised it to the rank of a
Pontifical Council and called it the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of
Legislative Texts. He finally named it the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
in 1999 saying its work "consists mainly in interpreting the laws of the Church".
Among its members is Indian Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, the head of the Syro-Malabar
Church of India.