By Matters India Reporter

Ajmer: A Catholic priest, who recently assaulted his bishop, has been suspended, according to a letter from the victim prelate.

In a letter to Father Varghese Palappallil, Bishop Pius Thomas D’Souza of Ajmer cited the second section of Canon law 1370 to inform his priest assaulter that his action has incurred “Latae Sententiae Interdict and suspension” from all priestly duties and priestly ministry.

The Catholic Church inflicts a “latae sententiae penalty” automatically on those attacking its authorities such as a bishop.

Copies of Bishop D’Souza’s March 10 were also sent to all bishops in India, major superiors of religious congregations working in the northern Indian diocese, deans in the diocese, bishops of Agra region and Father Martin Anto, parish priest of the diocese’s Vallabhnagar church.

The bishop’s letter informs the priest that he has been barred from the “celebration of Mass, Sacraments, sacramentals and to receive Sacraments in the Church from the very moment of the physical assault.”

The bishop informs the priest that he is obliged to observe the canon law provisions.

Father Palappallil, who is facing a sexual abuse allegation from a married woman, attacked Bishop D’Souza on March 7 in the dining hall of the Bishop’s House.

A message from Father Cosmos Shekhawat, the diocese’s vicar general, on March 9 said Father Palappallil attacked the bishop after the prelate declined the priest’s demand for some appointment.

The bishop had not given Father Palappallil any assignment as the abuse case against him was pending in Rome.

18 Comments

  1. Am shocked and disgusted to read of this incident.
    Dirty linnen should not be washed in public.
    We, the lay, do not know the details hence should not be judgemental.
    A fair inquiry is the need of the hour and it is high time we head in the “right direction”, with justice”.
    Let us pray for the Clergy esp during this “Lenten Season” and the “Suffering Lord” would definetly help our Church to be a roll modle for us and others.

  2. The matter must be fast tracked to ensure justice to both parties. Justice delayed is justice denied!

  3. I think a proper enquiry need to be done since this case is going on more than 6 years without any result. Both side needs to be heard. Bishop’s House has built recently has CCTV cameras all over . The enquiry committee need to use the help of those devices too prove the case. Also an external committee need to be set up to investigate all the appointments, all cases of sexual harassment which has come up in the past and how it is being dealt, all transactions of land accusation and money need to be enquired to builld up a proper case to come to a conclusion but in no way physical assault it justified.

  4. With all due respect for the decision, I would like to ask about the inaction on other similar allegations on other priests of the diocese. When it’s the same allegations in the same diocese, why the difference?

  5. And then, there is the Indian Penal Code
    He is much younger than the bishop. The allegation that he picked up a hair as his assault weapon invokes several clauses of the IPC. The report does not mention if a criminal case has been resisted by the Police. It should be. He is, I presume, facing a criminal case in the sexual assault incident.

  6. When a priest grabs land from old parents without the knowledge of children the Bishop keeps quiet as if nothing has happened Now reversal has started priests have started attacking the Bishops and all sorts of mockery is ongoing among these guys .See the scandals exposed of land scams , Bishop raping Nun , bishop married ,Bishop having children all .So nothing surprising . Common people are following the path of JESUS and Preachers of JESUS are following wrong paths as they do not have fear . Fear of God need to brought in them now by laity shaming such guys

  7. Has the Bishop lodged a police complaint against Father Varghese for physical assault? Also, Father Varghese can challenge his suspension in Civil Court on the ground that his side of the story was not heard.

  8. It is high time to start Transfer of Bishops in Mission dioeses where bishops are becoming power hub (to transfer all others for his own domination) rather than a spiritual leader who takes care of the needs of the missionaries.

  9. Very sad to hear all that’s happening in our Catholic church. We are suppose represent our Jesus Christ the Lord.

  10. Canon 1370/2 does not warrant an excommunication but an interdict or suspension

  11. Appreciate the clarification as the story was misleading. Apparently the bishop has had recourse to Canon 1370:2. This doesn’t really change all else that I have stated about Canon Law and ex-communication.

  12. We, as a Christian Community, are at the cross roads. We need to exercise extreme caution before uttering or expressing in writing, the word ex-communicate. This particular word has a far reaching impact and implication. My question is simple. A high level enquiry must be arranged to listen to both sides of the story, before a balanced judgement is made. The root cause for such a heightened stand off, necessarily merits a fair and just investigation, by neutral persons, holding a diploma in natural jurisprudence. The entire case needs to be dealt with swiftly and honestly, and a conclusive end without keeping one and all concerned in suspense. I sincerely hope that good sense will prevail and natural justice restored.

  13. Very sad to know of this case: a priest physically attacks his bishop. Equally, it shocks all of the faithful. Without commenting on other aspects, I just want to clarify on the use of the word ‘excommunication’ here. While the story’s title conveys that serious punishment is given to the priest mentioned here, it can be misleading. Technically, the punishment in this case is NOT latae sententiae / automatic excommunication, but, as the story correctly describes, latae sententiae interdict and suspension. Obviously, what has happened is a gross violation and deserves serious punishment. The priestly faculties are suspended. The Vatican offices will be involved in the case, and, after due process, the priest may (or may not) be pardoned and reinstated. Apart for this, seeking justice, as per the law of the land, the victim-bishop can file a case. As per Canon law, automatic EXCOMMUNICATION applies to very few cases. Informally but incorrectly many use the word ex-communication and it is understandable as it gives ‘force’ to the story.

  14. Not for a moment would I condone the physical assault on the bishop by one of his priests accused of sexual activity. Equally, I do not subscribe to the Catholic Church’s selective use of latae sententiae (automatic ex communication, without an opportunity to be heard). Natural jurisprudence is that a person is innocent till proven guilty.

    This same norm is used against a woman who procures an abortion, regardless of the circumstances. There are also many provisions in Canon Law that bishops and priests conveniently gloss over, be it involvement in commerce and trade, wearing of suitable clerical dress, establishment of parish councils and finance committees, not celebrating the Eucharist if nobody is present etc. It is a long list.

    The bishop in this case could have suspended him, pending a fair and swift enquiry. But ex-communication is a disproportionate reaction. Is this priest’s action worse than the acts of Bps Gallela Prasad of Kadappah, Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar, or William of Mysore? There is more than enough prima facie evidence against these bishops. Please start by ex-communicating them.

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