By Varghese Alengaden
Indore, July 29, 2020: Criminals who are arrested for crimes of murder, rape and financial irregularities refuse to confess their crime.
They flatly deny their crimes and employ the best and the most expensive lawyers to defend them. Many of these criminals succeed in escaping from the clutches of the law with the help of their lawyers and money power.
The trend of telling lies after committing various crimes is not limited only to politicians and business people. Even the god-men who are accused and jailed for various crimes continue telling lies and refuse to confess their crimes.
The wealth they have accumulated and the common people whom they have brainwashed with the drug of religion help them to sustain their status despite various crimes they have committed on innocent people. Even when they are sent to prison, they manage to get VIP treatment there. Their arrogance and self-righteousness do not vanish.
It is said, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Politicians and business people become corrupt because of the money they accumulate and the power they hold. However they are liable to be questioned and investigated at some time or other. They do not have absolute power which is unquestionable.
Contrary to this the god-men and religious heads enjoy absolute power and unquestionable authority over their people. They have more chances to indulge in corruption and crimes. They brainwash their people in such a way that no one dares to question them.
In fact many people have blind faith and obedience to them. Because of this people keep silence even, even if they rape their women disciples or murder those who raise voice against them. With money power they manage to get the support of politicians and officials to defend themselves.
When religion is commercialized its leaders deviate from their role as spiritual guides. They become owners of large commercial empire in the name of God. They sell their souls by suppressing the voice of their conscience. They become hypocrites telling lies to prove themselves. With money and muscle power they silence and eliminate prophets who challenge their hypocrisy.
The present crisis the Church faces in different parts of India can be solved only by adopting the Christo centric way of life to become salt of society and act as prophets. This is possible only by listening to the voice of conscience and obeying it.
Spiritual people will humbly accept the mistakes and do penance without waiting for a court verdict. Even if the highest court in the country gives a clean chit to a criminal his or her conscience will imprison and persecute him or her forever.
Absenting himself several times from appearing before the court with many excuses, Bishop Franco Mulakkal has further damaged the image of the Church and brought disgrace to the sacred status of bishop. When High court did not accept his excuses he approached Supreme Court to save himself from appearing before the court.
Jesus, John the Baptist, Gandhi and many genuine prophets never ran away from arrest and trial even when they were fully innocent and knew that they would be condemned to death. Escaping trial with false excuses only proves the guilt.
Will the disciples of Christ and the leaders of the Church learn to show courage and honesty to obey their conscience instead of waiting for a court judgment? Why do the leaders of the Church fail to speak out, following the prophetic example of Christ? Why to fit in when we are born to stand out?