Empty words from Syro-Malabar Synod

By Varghese Alengaden

Indore, Aug 24, 2020: The intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy of the Church leadership is exposed every time the final statement of the Syro-Malabar Synod of Bishops is published.

The major focus of the previous Synod held in January 2020 was about ‘love jihad’ which brought much criticism from several intellectuals and Muslim organizations. The Church leadership was humiliated when the Union Home Minister declared in Parliament within a few days that there was no case of ‘love jihad’ in Kerala.

Did the Church leadership intend to appease the Hindutva forces by this baseless anti-Muslim statement to save the Church institutions and personnel from many scandals and scams as reported in the media?

There were questions raised about the silence of the Synod about the numerous sex scandals and scams by priests and bishops? Why do all the honorable bishops in the synod repeat the mistake of Bishma Pitamaha of Mahabharata who was a mute spectator when Draupadi was stripped in the royal durbar?

Why doesn’t a single bishop show the prophetic courage to speak to bishops and influential priests when they were accused of scandals and dragged to court ? Why do they make the excuse of waiting for the court judgment to do their prophetic mission?

The second Synod of the year (August 19-21) has come out with a statement to “cooperate with the authorities to help society’s poorest irrespective of caste and creed.” Why does the Church leadership so particular about showing their cooperation to the government in helping the poor?

Moreover what did the Church do when thousands of poor migrant laborers were dying in the roads and railway tracks with fatigue and hunger? How many of the churches and institutions opened their doors to give shelter and food for those thousands who were homeless, sick and hungry?

With humility the Church need to admit the fact that the lay people of other faiths including film actors such as Sonu Sood had done much more than what the Church could accomplish in helping the poor and the stranded migrant laborers.

While speaking of the need to focus on the integral development of the poor and fundamental changes in the pastoral care the Synod should have given some practical action plans also. Many organizations in the church spend much time and money to organize meetings and bring forth reports and statements which remain in the files.

The Synod document speaks of following the example of Jesus. Why doesn’t the Church leadership follow the prophetic example of Jesus to condemn the human right violations and atrocities on women in various parts of the country by the Hindutva forces and police? Why didn’t the Church leadership speak out in support of the prophet Prashant Bhushan who is defending our Constitutional values and rights?

If the leaders are afraid of speaking out why don’t they encourage their priests and nuns to speak out? In the past this very Synod had forbidden priests and nuns to speak to the media. Many were punished for taking part in protest against atrocities against nuns and women. Remember, Christ had condemned the hypocrisy of theologians, preachers and high priests of His time (Mt: 13-39). He was ready to pay the price.

If the Church has to be true to Christ and His mission then it has to stand out and speak fearlessly against injustice and human right violations instead of remaining mute spectator. For this it is important for the Church to preserve its saltiness.

In other words both leaders and consecrated persons in the Church should preserve their integrity. If they lose their saltiness of authenticity and credibility they would be rejected and thrown out to be trampled underfoot by people.

The Church in India with its human and institutional resources can work miracles. It is time it gave up hypocrisy and returned to the way of Christ.