Kochi, March 17, 2020: The federal Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) says the government has no information about the Church’s “Gabriel Sena.”
The government declaration has brought relief to Tellicherry archdiocese in Kerala that was caught in a controversy after reports surfaced about it raising the sena, a unit of retired military and paramilitary men “for furthering the Church’s interests.”
Reports said the Syro-Malabar archdiocese had planned hold the sena’s first meeting at Thaliparamba in Kannur on November 15, 2019.
The reports also quoted Father Mathew Ashariparambil as the Gabriel Sena director and he confirmed that the retired military and paramilitary men should become “guardians of faith and warriors of ideals.”
Although the archdiocese clarified that the group was specifically formed for crowd management at the farmers’ agitation meet to be held on December 9, 2019, in Kannur and had nothing to do with the Church’s religious activities, many raised allegations that the Church was trying to raise a radical outfit.
The MHA came out with its version when a question was raised in the parliament seeking details about the “Gabriel Sena.”
To the query whether the federal government is aware that the Church in Kerala has formed Gabriel Sena consisting of military and paramilitary retired personnel and if so, the details thereof, federal Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy replied that “no such information came to the notice of the government.”
Now that the MHA had denied existence of any such unit, the Tellicherry archdiocese expressed happiness that the issue is finally resolved. “We formed a group of volunteers specifically for the conduct of the farmers’ meet and someone suggested that we can call the group ‘Gabriel Sena.’ A few interpreted it wrong and started spreading false information,” said archdiocese spokesperson Father Thomas Thengumpally.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2020/mar/16/thalassery-church-relieved-after-mha-says-no-information-on-any-gabriel-sena-2117143.html