Friday, December 16, 2016

The great moral Theologian and Simple Friar Felix Podimattam dies at the age of 83

One of India’s leading moral theologian and renowned author Capuchin Father Felix Podimattam has been chosen to be included in the 2014 edition of the Limca Book of Records for authoring more than 135 books on Ethics and Morality. He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from the University of Mysore, a Licentiate degree in Theology from Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome and a Doctoral degree in Moral Theology from the Alphonsian Academy, Rome. His doctoral thesis ‘The Relativity of Natural Law’ is acclaimed as exceptionally excellent. The thesis was guided by the eminent Moral Theologian, Bernard Haering, who influenced the renewal of Moral teachings of the Church during and after the Vatican II. Dr. Podimattam is resident professor at St. Francis Theological College, Kottayam and has been the founding member and first president of the Indian Moral Theologians Association. Most of his books are published by Media House, Delhi



The latest works of Dr. Podimattam are “The Ten Commandments in the Law of Christ”, a 20-volume work on the Decalogue which  provides a re-interpretation of the commandments keeping in mind the genuine concerns of the people of God, and a  10-volume work on Bio-Medical Ethics. Capuchin Provincial Dr. Mathew Paikada, said what guides this prolific writer in the whole treatise of his voluminous works is not moral rigorism, but a basic interior orientation to God in the person of Christ. Fr. Paikada described Podimattam’s works as a blend of creative dialogue, critical integration of the visions and views of other religions, positive attitude to life in general, especially to human body and sexuality, keen observation of  the socio-political and religious happenings of the times, affirmation of the values of the rights and dignity of women in the Church and society, sacredness of life and an emphasis on fundamental Christian values as well as the findings of modern sciences like psychology, sociology, anthropology, etc, as well as the latest fruits of biblical exegesis.


Born in  1934 at Muttom, near Thodupuzha in the Diocese of Palai, Kerala, Podimattom joined the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins and was ordained a priest at the age of 26. Dr. Podimattam a member of St. Joseph Province and is professor at St. Francis Theological College, Kottayam.  The new Limca Book of Records will be released in early 2014.

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