{"id":246531,"date":"2026-03-25T00:20:47","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T18:50:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=246531"},"modified":"2026-03-29T01:44:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-28T20:14:41","slug":"reverend-father-aloysius-pieris-a-brave-priest-who-did-not-fear-controversy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/reverend-father-aloysius-pieris-a-brave-priest-who-did-not-fear-controversy\/","title":{"rendered":"Reverend Father Aloysius Pieris \u2013 A Brave Priest Who Did Not Fear Controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0Basil Fernando<\/a>\u00a0\u2013<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Basil Fernando<\/p><\/div>\n

Reverend Father Aloysius Pieris, perhaps the best-known Jesuit priest in Sri Lanka of the last century, passed away two days ago. He played many diverse roles within the Church and in the realm of social issues. At the time of his death, he was at the Tulana Research Center, an institution he played a prominent role in organizing. He passed away in the hospital after a prolonged illness, cared for deeply by former students of the Jesuits and many others who admired him.<\/p>\n

It is too early to offer a lengthy assessment of the life, work, and times of Fr. Aloy Pieris. He was involved in so many things\u2014not merely activities, but also deep, in-depth studies and teaching. To gain even a glimpse into the life of this important thinker and actor, it is essential to point to a key turning point for those who knew him over a long period.\"\"<\/p>\n

I have known him since the 1970s, and it is clear he underwent a complete conversion to the task of promoting the teachings of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II), which was held in the early 1960s. Before that, he had been in Rome, studying and teaching, and was fully aware of the debates taking place at the time, particularly in religious and Catholic circles.<\/p>\n

The central theme of the Vatican II debates was to bring the Catholic Church to confront the problems faced by humanity in the 20th century. Life across the globe had changed drastically from earlier times, marked by industrialization in the West, secularization, and the emergence of new power blocs organized around capitalist and communist worldviews during the Cold War.<\/p>\n

From a moral, ethical, and spiritual point of view, this vast transformation brought unprecedented problems. Two World Wars had killed millions, displaced countless people, and created enormous refugee crises. Though it was a new world, it was not the brave new world once anticipated. It was a world dominated by fear, where the threat of nuclear war loomed, and conflicts raged globally, with world politics shaped by the contest between two major ideologies.<\/p>\n

It was within this context that the Church had to re-articulate its message so that modern humanity could understand the basic teachings of Jesus. Many vocal theologians and thinkers were re-examining the meaning of these teachings in this new world.<\/p>\n

For the average person and priest, the basic message was that a fundamental change was needed for the Church to fulfil its role. Many older forms of involvement – noble and valuable in centuries past – were now being undertaken by secular forces. The Church needed to find its role anew, while carrying the same essential message.<\/p>\n

It was in this world that Fr. Aloy Pieris took a very firm stand. Over the years I knew him, one thing was consistent in his teachings and conversations: his commitment to the teachings and orientation of Vatican II. In this, he represented not only himself but also his religious order, which served the Church during that time by promoting this new orientation.<\/p>\n

Although this story requires a fuller telling, it is important to note that promoting Vatican II was not always a smooth affair. It brought bitter controversies and serious divisions within the Catholic Church. Older priests and leaders often found themselves in conflict with what they were now called to do. Sorting out these conflicts became a preoccupation for decades and, in some ways, continues to this day.<\/p>\n

In Sri Lanka, some took an extraordinary interest in promoting Vatican II. The leader among them was Bishop Leo Nanayakkara, who left his prestigious diocese in Kandy to work with ordinary people in the poorer area of Badulla. This endeavour attracted many younger priests, including Fr. Michael Rodrigo, who held a double doctorate in theology from the Sorbonne and chose to work with Bishop Nanayakkara in remote Buttala. There, he worked with a small group of followers, including nuns, among the poorest communities. Tragically, during the southern conflict between the government and the JVP, Fr. Rodrigo was assassinated while celebrating Mass, due to conflicts between his work with the poor and local interests. Fr. Rodrigo was also deeply interested in liturgical changes that adapted practices to local Sri Lankan customs.<\/p>\n

Other prominent leaders emerged, including Fr. Tissa Balasuriya of the Centre for Society and Religion and Fr. Aloy Pieris, Director of the Tulana Research Center. Both were intellectuals of great merit with thorough knowledge of the Vatican II controversies, and they used their forums to promote its orientations in Sri Lanka. A substantial body of literature from this period remains, documenting what took place.<\/p>\n

It was also during this time that a group of theologians, known as the Asian theologians, developed, with Fr. Balasuriya playing a prominent role and Fr. Aloy Pieris taking an active part.<\/p>\n

One unfortunate incident during this time was a misunderstanding surrounding Fr. Tissa Balasuriya\u2019s book\u00a0Mary and Human Liberation<\/i>. Written within orthodox Catholic teaching but emphasizing the role of women in the modern Church, the book was controversially portrayed as heretical, leading to a Vatican order of excommunication. The Oblate order, which had its own highly qualified theologians in Sri Lanka, declared the work orthodox. After interventions by globally known theologians in dialogue with Fr. Balasuriya, the matter was resolved and the excommunication withdrawn. Fr. Aloy Pieris, in close consultation with Fr. Balasuriya during that time, witnessed how this controversy left a deep bitterness in a man known for a lifetime of commitment to the Church, including roles as defender of the Church during the school takeover issue and as director of Aquinas University College.<\/p>\n

Fr. Aloy would recall these things without any impediment or personal attack. He sought to authentically represent what happened, believing that this was integral to his identity. During this time, I wrote a book entitled\u00a0Power and Conscience<\/i>\u00a0about this controversy. At a public meeting, Fr. Aloy mentioned that he took this book to the Vatican and gave it to prominent cardinals to provide insight into the matter.<\/p>\n

The characteristics of Fr. Aloy were his attachment to truth, boldness in stating it when necessary, and his constant observance of charity and love. He died at the age of 91. It is hoped that the work he left at Tulana\u2014preserving documentation and research\u2014will continue with the same dedication, as it represents a crucial contribution to developing local thinking and leadership for modern times.<\/p>\n

A word must be said about his involvement in the study of Buddhism. He was perhaps the most erudite Catholic priest on Buddhism in Sri Lanka. This work was part of his commitment to Vatican II teachings, undertaken with the approval of his superiors. He began his studies under Ven. Dr. Walpola Rahula Thero while at a seminary and later completed his PhD, teaching at Vidyalankara University and supervising many doctoral theses. What this importantly demonstrated was that Buddhists and Catholics are not enemies. They are two great religions that coexist in Sri Lanka, contributing to the country\u2019s ethical and moral development. They may have their differences, as they should – differences between people searching for truth and devoting themselves to a spiritually rich world committed to love and nurturing relationships.<\/p>\n

Naturally, Fr. Aloy Pieris will not be easily forgotten. I am sure many will have opportunities to record their encounters with him, which should be encouraged, because the life of this man illuminates not only his own journey but also matters of great importance to spiritual life and the life of this country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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