By Matters India Reporter
Ajmer: A Catholic priest of Ajmer diocese, currently facing sexual abuse allegation, has physically attacked his bishop, says a message from the vicar general.
The March 9 message from Father Cosmos Shekhawat terms as “very unfortunate” the attack that took place in the Bishop’s House two days earlier.
The message lets Bishop Pius Thomas D’Souza of Ajmer to narrate how he was attacked by Father Varghese Palappallil, whose abuse case is now pending in Rome.
The message expressed the diocese’s solidarity with the bishop and assured him the prayers of the faithful.
Bishop D’Souza, who took over the diocese on January 19, 2013, as its sixth prelate says he was attacked as he was having lunch on March 7. As he was about to get up after the meal at 1 pm Father Palappallil came to dining hall.
“Since he is a priest of the diocese I waited and he came and sat close to me,” the bishop explained: Without losing time, the priest began to argue about his case on sexual allegation from a married woman. “I explained to him that I have nothing to do with the case as it is pending in Rome, being dealt with according to the procedure of Canon Law and I am not against him,” Bishop D’Souza continued.
Father Palappallil then sprang up and started physically attacking the bishop, according to the prelate’s narration.
“Before I could understand anything, he gave me a strong blow on my face near eyes. My spectacles fell off to the ground. Before I could grasp the situation, he gave me a blow on my neck,” Bishop D’Souza continued.
In the meantime, Father Henry Moras came for lunch and rushed to the bishop’s rescue.
“With unbearable pain, I kept sitting on my chair,” said the prelate and added that his assailant kept asking him to give him appointment with immediate effect.
“I told Father Varghese to wait till the sexual allegation case is over, again he gave me blow on my chest and lifted a chair to me.”
Father Moras again saved the bishop.
“He attacked me as if he had pre-planned,” Bishop D’Souza alleged.
Lack of prayer, listening to THE WORD OF GOD, lead Bishops and Priests to the temptations of Wealth,Wine and Women.There are still worse situations in many Dioceses. Let us pray.
It’s really unfortunate. We pray to God that true peace may prevail between the bishops and priests n avoid scandals in the church which is already beset with unending problems. Let there be peace
Is it possible that no reply came from Rome for almost 6 years if the case is sent to Rome? Rome reply only to bishop and through bishop. If the bishop does not talk to the priest for many years /………
chhotebhai
March 12, 2021
The church in India seems to have reached its tipping point. Kadappah, Jalandhar, Mysore, Calcutta and now Ajmer. Wayward priests, incompetent or morally corrupt bishops, snail pace action from the Nunciature and an ignorant or indifferent laity. Get ready for an implosion, collapsing under its own weight of acts of omission and commission. THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES 😨😨😨
Is it possible that no reply came from Rome even after 6 years and the bishop who has sent the case to Rome is not even willing to talk to the priest. There cannot be unlimited detention. Rome will reply only to bishop and through bishop. the priest is only asking the shepherd, father, head, bishop to talk to him since 6 years.
Bhai , things are getting worse and worse because of enormous wealth and no control over it. Vocations is for becoming a Principal / Manager’s and not Priesthood.
Cuddapah diocese Bishop Galleala Prasad was also asaulted by some of the priests.The executive body suspended those priests and they were kept in prison . Later Gali bali the apostolic administrator had appointed the as parish priests with absolute nepotism towards his community and trying to loot the Treasury of the diocese by appointing an junior priest as the procurator bypassing all the senior priests.He is planning to bankrupt the diocese before arrival of his successor as new Bishop to Cuddapah. It is observing that he is not allowing the to speak and not even ready open the main gates. Such a worst administration is going in Cuddapah Diocese. He is giving assets and properties to his supporters for hundred years of lease deed.
The bishops must have the priests tested for chastity or virginity. Many have failed in poverty, chastity and wine. Some have secret families. Shame to cheat God and faithful.
What a shocking incident. I could not face my Hindu friends when they asked me about thus.
Where is Church in India heading?
Is there hope that things will improve.
Attack on bishop is very disturbing.
Prayers.. .
It’s a shame to know what is going on in the Roman Catholic Church. The head of the church is to be blamed for it. As they support the priest by paying for the lawyers fees. ( From the church collection)
Like the saying goes. You scratch my back, l scratch yours.
Keeping quit on all the matter with no action taken on the priest. Gives them courage and confidence to abuse the system further. The way we are moving, soon we will have very few Catholic coming to church. What a sorry state.
surely a case for the police?
Very sad. It is unbecoming of a priest. Hope he will realize what he did and repent. Lenten season too…..Too sad.
I completely agree with you. We are far much more better than these Wolves in sheep’s clothing…
Delhi is no better… Bishop Anil is a complete failure…
Yes this is sad and utter shameful. However the priest is wrong he cannot raise hands on a bishop, but then sometimes the bishops also forget that they are sitting on the chair of Peter the rock. Selfishness have taken over priests and religious. Anyway Peace peace peace…
It is unfair. Shame up on this dear priest. Now ,what a situation we creat, and then we ourselves live in fear. Inside too is unsafe. Michaelachen/ Nathewaly.
There’s a lot of coverage and protection is being given by the hierarchy to the accused priest, so once who are not protected show muscle power to get protection. Unless we clean the rot plagued in the institution, this will prevail. Wait and watch, you will be surprised by what money the institution and priest are holding to bury every action of the accused and bully the laity.
So sad to hear all these painful news. What is happening to holy Mother church. Let us pray ardently for our priests, bishops and religious.
Dr(Sr) Mudita Menona Sodder rscj
Your comments are really worth like gold. It is the sum total of the present situation
It’s really very bad…
In my comment there is an error. The last sentence must be read as:” it is high time for them to mend their ways”.
Sexual crimes and misappropriation of colossal funds seem to be the order of the day. This is because oir hierarchy are used to receiving and spending such big amounts of money on themselves.
Ironically the Head of the church is sleeping on such matters and adversely protecting them by giving them legal aid and helping with hymenplasty et al.
Tables have turned and the laity are now far better individuals than the “Holy” ones. They have now learnt to Preach & Practice!!
The church in India seems to have reached its tipping point. Kadappah, Jalandhar, Mysore, Calcutta and now Ajmer. Wayward priests, incompetent or morally corrupt bishops, snail pace action from the Nunciature and an ignorant or indifferent laity. Get ready for an implosion, collapsing under its own weight of acts of omission and commission. THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES 😨😨😨
Believe in God only and not in any religion or any rituals.
This type of repeated “incidents” (reported and unreported) must become a “WARNING SIGNAL” to every priest and bishop. It is high time for them to “men their ways”.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph be with these shepherds and help them bring no further shame and infamy on the community of herders lest the little lambs under their care should be lost to other shepherds from competing branches of Christianity hovering over them like birds of prey waiting for the opportunity to strike
Cuddaapah Diocese becme worst because of Apostolic administrator Dr.Gali Bali.
His administration is absolute failure.
Its unfortunate to know if the assault to d bishop and of the delayed bail to Fr.Stan.