By Varghese Alengaden

Indore, Sept 24, 2020: Since I have not enrolled in ‘WhatsApp University’ many call me outdated and backward. However, some friends bring their smart phones and ask me to watch some of the rare videos in WhatsApp.

Today I witnessed a fiery political speech by a renowned retreat preacher of Kerala against the LDF Government because of the police atrocity against the striking opposition party workers. Retreat preachers have been eloquent in preaching retreats quoting the scriptures. For the first time I could see a Catholic priest giving a fiery speech which would qualify him to be a politician. Moreover, he was speaking in the defense of democracy and constitutional values in a wrong context and for a wrong cause. He gave a clear impression of an opposition leader.

The second WhatsApp video was by a Catholic layperson countering the purity of intention of the retreat preacher who spoke in favor of the opposition party. He questioned the silence of the preacher when police attacked the LDF workers when the UDF government was in power. He further questioned the silence of the preacher and other retreat preachers when repeated incidents of priests committing sexual crimes against minor girls and nuns were reported.

He also questioned the silence of the popular preachers on the sexual allegations and the alleged land scams by the bishops. Why don’t these fiery speakers don’t speak out against the attacks against Christians and human right violations by BJP- RSS Govt. at the Centre?

The layperson also questioned about the indifference of the Church authorities who are unwilling to spend the accumulated wealth for the hungry people who are suffering due to pandemic Coronavirus.

He was speaking about the failure of the priests and high priests of the Church in their prophetic mission. Why should the Catholic priests follow the model of the Hindu godmen who enter into partisan politics to get favors from the corrupt politicians? Prophets have a tradition of speaking against the crimes committed by kings and emperors. Similarly, priests and preachers have a prophetic role of speaking out in favor of the poor and the oppressed and not siding with any political party expecting to get special favors.

In the initial days of pandemic Covid 19, all these preachers and the priestly class were taking care of their safety and security from the deadly virus and were busy in preaching and conducting online prayers while the migrant laborers were walking on the roads without food and shelter. Most of them could not see the crucified Christ in these suffering people in whose name they were preaching and praying.

The third WhatsApp was of Franciscan Clarist Congregation Sister Lissy Vadakkel, who is an important witness in Bishop Franco Mulakkal’s case of sexual assault and rape of a nun. Ironically, she is living in her own convent with police protection. She has confessed that she was under pressure and threat from various people to withdraw her statement against Bishop Franco.

The argument placed before her is, “It is sinful to speak against Bishops and the Church.” She spoke with firmness in an interview, “I am not going to change my statement against Bishop Franco who has committed a grave crime against a helpless nun. He used his money power and influence. I have been suffering all kinds of humiliation and threats. I am facing them for the mission of Christ.”

Unfortunately, all the priests and nuns who are in authority speak of serving the Church. The nuns are asked to suffer silently in the service of the Church and its leaders. Only a few have the courage to speak that serving Christ, being His disciple and following his teachings are more important than to be a member of the institutional and imperial Church and practicing its rituals and rules.

When Bishop Franco was arrested and imprisoned for the alleged rape of a nun another prominent retreat preacher released a 30-minute eloquent through WhatsApp talk ‘canonizing’ the accused prelate. The preachers were obsessed with giving the message of serving the Church and its priestly class and the hierarchy. The Church seems to be alien to the call of God to be prophets who dare to call a spade a spade.

The test of the Disciples of Christ shall be based on this question: “What would Jesus do, if He were here? What is the mind of Christ? What is the heart of Christ?” Unfortunately, all the efforts of priests and high priests are for maintaining and protecting the structure of the Church and those in authority, whatever be their crime.