In India, land ownership holds significant importance in the economy, with the government and surprising entities like the Catholic Church owning substantial swathes of land, as of 2017. Despite expectations of real estate magnates or industrialists, it’s the Catholic Church of India that possesses the largest share of land after the government. This conglomerate of Christian trusts and charitable societies boasts a widespread network, including bishops, priests, brothers, and sisters committed to propagating the Christian message.
The Catholic Church of India is recognised as the second-largest non-agricultural landowner after the government. Its extensive property portfolio across the nation holds considerable value, roughly matching India’s navy budget at the time, which was around Rs 20,000 crore. Furthermore, the Catholic Church of India ranks among the largest non-government employers in the country.
Evidence of the Catholic Church of India’s extensive property holdings can be found in its ownership of numerous properties across different regions of the country, including areas like Goa in the west and Kohima in Northeast India. According to a 2012 report from The Telegraph-Calcutta, they possess a wide array of institutions, including 2457 hospital dispensaries, 240 medical or nursing colleges, 28 general colleges, 5 engineering colleges, 3765 secondary schools, 7319 primary schools, and 3187 nursery schools throughout India. This makes them the second-largest landowner in India, following the Indian Government.
Moreover, the Catholic Church has ventured into agricultural land ownership. For instance, in 2009, they acquired a plantation valued at 123 crore rupees in Kerala.
The significant acquisition of land by the Catholic Church of India can be attributed mainly to the Indian Churches Act of 1927, which was implemented during the British dominion. Under this act, the British dominion leased the lands acquired through their conquests in various wars at discounted rates to aid in the propagation of Christianity among the populace. This enabled the Church to acquire land across India and establish numerous institutions, including religious ones, as mentioned earlier, to disseminate their message to the masses. However, the legal status of this land acquisition remains a topic of debate.
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