Relations with the U.S. Hindu community originated with the Vaishnava – Christian Dialogue that was convened by a group of Christian and Vaishnava scholars in 1998. The dialogue meets once a year in Potomac, Maryland to take up key issues in theology and spirituality and is hosted by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). While the SEIA is not the official co-convener, the Hindu-Catholic consultation hosts a public Hindu-Catholic encounter as part of the annual meeting with staff participation.

In 2015, in conjunction with the visit of Jean-Louis Cardinal Tauran, then Prefect of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, USCCB held a dialogue at Durga Temple in Fairfax, VA, which generated plans for local collaboration and a possible future dialogue. Two meetings have since been held between Hindu and Catholic leaders, the most recent of which was in November 2017 at the Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Lanham, MD. The topic was about love of neighbor in Catholic and Hindu traditions, and the keynote address was delivered by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Papal Nuncio to the U.S.

While not a formal dialogue, the Hindu-Catholic consultation hosts a public Hindu-Catholic encounter as part of the annual meeting.

Dr. Anthony Cirelli is the lead USCCB staff for Hindu-Catholic relations.

Documents and News Releases Produced by the Dialogue