By Varghese Alengaden
Indore: Very rarely have I heard of bishops expressing regret. Often bishops and priests who are in powerful positions behave as if they share the infallibility of Pope. So, I was surprised to know that a bishop has expressed his regret for attending a marriage between a Catholic woman and a Muslim man inside a church.
With all good intention Emeritus Bishop Mathew Vaniakizhakkel of Satna accepted the invitation by the bride’s family he was closely associated. Later the 74 –year-old prelate expressed regret because of the negative publicity about the mixed marriage propagated by a section of people with vested interests.
After learning the background of this mixed marriage I am of the view that the bishop’s regret is regrettable. By succumbing to the negative propaganda of the militant elements he lost an opportunity to educate people about the importance of creating good will and harmony among people of other faiths.
Mixed marriages are permitted by the Church. Father Benny John Maramparambil, the parish priest of Kadvanthra parish, had received the official non-objection certificate and the required permission from the parish priest of the bride’s parish to administer the marriage in the church. The official letter from the parish priest declaring that there were no impediments assured Bishop Mathew to attend the mixed marriage.
A parish priest usually obtains dispensation under disparity of cult before issuing the non-objection letter to the parish priest of the church where the wedding is to take place. When all such formalities were fulfilled why should a senior bishop express regret for blessing the young couple? The regret expressed by bishop was unnecessary.
Moreover, the young couple are educated. Both of them are medical doctors who studied together and are working together in the same hospital. They have decided to marry after knowing each other for many years. The husband has consented fully to the wife for practicing her Catholic faith and bringing up the children in Catholic faith. It is edifying to know that the husband accompanies his wife regularly to church for Mass and other rituals. The parents and members of both the families are happy about the marriage.
I have met Bishop Mathew when he headed Satna diocese and was impressed by his simplicity and holiness. The self-appointed defenders of the Church have committed a grave sin by their negative propaganda which made the bishop to express a public regret for doing a noble pastoral work. The abuses being heaped upon Father Benny, the parish priest, in social media by those defenders of the Church through fake profile are not only an act of cowardice but psychological lynching.
The parish priest of Kadvanthra parish, who has done his pastoral duty after all verification of documents, doesn’t deserve such abuses and insults. These co-called defenders of the Church do not dare to come face to face for a debate or dialogue. The four-page explanation on the issue and further developments by Father Benny provides crystal clear answers to all false allegations.
It is important to note that Father Benny had been in the forefront of the team which was examining the facts about the alleged land scandal in which Cardinal George Alencherry was accused as a party. Father Benny had major role in bringing out the facts regarding the land scandal which ultimately led to the transfer of Cardinal Alencherry from the Archbishops house of Ernakulam and installation of Archbishop Antony Kariyil.
Much before BJP governments in some states started talking against ‘Love Jihad’ the Syro-Malabar Synod of Bishops spoke against ‘Love Jihad’ and offended the Muslim community. Soon after the Synod statement was released the Minister of State for Home in the Parliament had clarified that there was case of ‘Love Jihad’ in the country.
Why did bishops make this imaginary issue to offend the Muslim community? Were they eager to please BJP-RSS leaders so that the BJP government at the Centre may not unleash the investigating agencies against the church institutions and its personnel involved in various financial and sex scandals?
As I have written on several occasions, bishops, priests, religious and laity should ask this question before they make any decisions: What would Jesus do if He were here today? Jesus launched a spiritual movement, THE WAY and liberated people from the burden of innumerable laws, rituals and dogmas. He gave us only one law, the law of love. He violated all laws, rituals and traditions which prevented people from growing in spirituality.
We cannot replace the Gospel of Christ with canon law, dogma and rituals. The Church, its leaders, clergy and religious are expected to be the salt to add taste and quality to society, prevent corruption and bring healing. But the Church has lost the saltiness and it gets trampled underfoot by people in the world. Instead of following Christ, the Good Shepherd, the leaders in the Church are following the corrupt political leaders, neglecting and giving scandal to the laity, the sheep.
Bishops and priests are expected to show courage and conviction to stand out against all injustice and negative forces, but often they remain silent for fear of being targeted and exposed.
On November 8, this year, an article was published in ‘Matters India’ under the title, “Bishops, speak up before you die.” At the age of 85, former Archbishop of Milan Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini made a revolutionary and realistic statement that the Catholic Church was “200 years out of date.” It is time for the bishops, priests, religious and the laity to follow the prophetic call and speak up against all imperial and political forces that destroy the mission of Christ.