Asian Trading Corporation celebrates 65 years

(September 27, 2010) India’s most known lay-owned theology-publishing firm marked 65 years of its existence last week by releasing three books including one of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI. Some 20 archbishops, two cardinals and a large number of Religious priests and sisters attended the 65th anniversary celebration of Asian Trading Corporation (ATC) in Bangalore on Friday. The Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible in India and Pope Benedict XVI’s book, ‘The Spirit of the Liturgy’ were released at the function. It also re-launched the revised version of the book “Shining Faith in Kandhamal,” by journalist Anto Akkara who with graphic details narrates stories of Christians who withstood violence to protect their faith. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay and president of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India said ATC has done a great service to the houses of formation, pastors and lay Catholics by publishing the Indian version of book, ‘The Spirit of the Liturgy.” The RSV Bible “is an accurate translation and there is hunger and burning desire for the Word of God in the hearts of people,” he said commending ATC for obtaining world rights for publishing RSV Bible, except in the UK. The cardinal also lauded the efforts and the courage of Anto Akkara in visiting the areas of Christian persecution and meeting the victims in Orissa.