By Jose Kavi
New Delhi: The editor of a Catholic weekly in India, who took the initiative to keep track of deaths among priests and nuns due to Covid-19 in the country, says the findings have shocked him.
“I am shocked at the huge loss to the Church in India,” says Capuchin Father Suresh Mathew, who on May 22 released the latest list of deaths among priests and nuns.
The list shows that the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic has so far claimed 181 priests and 166 nuns.
India has more than 30,000 priests, both diocesan and religious. The nuns, on the other hand, are around 103,000 – nearly three and a half times the priests’ number.
So, the death toll is comparatively much high among the priests.
In the list, 87 priest deaths came from 45 of India’s 174 dioceses. The archdiocese of Trichur with 9 deaths topped the list, followed by Bangalore archdiocese and Guntur diocese with four each.
Among the religious, 94 deaths were reported from 26 of 399 congregations, with the Jesuits topping the list with 36, followed by Carmelites of Mary Immaculate 8 and the Society of Divine Word 7.
Among the nuns, the Missionaries of Charity reported 14 deaths, the highest.
Father Mathew says he started collecting the details in early April after he started receiving news about the deaths of many priests and nuns.
“From my past experience, I know we do not bother to collect the statistics. So, the list is my contribution to the Universal Church,” he told Matters India.
The 49-year-old priest said he also wanted to know the reasons of the Covid deaths among priests of his age. “Many who died were below 50,” he pointed out.
Asked what the official Church has done to monitor the deaths, Father Mathew said he was aware of Father Jervis Fernandes, deputy secretary general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), asking bishops and major superiors to share the information of Covid cases. He also said he was not sure what the Conference of Religious India, the national body of heads of the religious congregation, has done.
“Anyone with professionalism in administration or leadership can collect the details without any delay, provided those who hold responsibilities share the details,” the Capuchin priest, who edits one the popular and bold magazines in India.
He could prepare the list, which he says is not complete, after great efforts. In early May he sent out a tentative list of priests to bishops and major superiors and others with a request: Kindly contact me with the missing details or errata if any.”
He has revised the list several times since then. He then started working on the list of religious women.
Although the deaths pain him, he believes they were the will of God. “When we see with the eyes of God they are in heaven,” he says.
At the same time, “questions also need to be raised regarding the reasons. Were these casualties caused by human errors?”
The priest says at least a few cases are human errors.
“Many died while they were in their active ministry. We have cases of sisters who got infected while on hospital duty. Priests who conducted funeral services of Covid deaths got infected,” he explained.
According to him, many priests, who worked in remote areas died because they had no access to better hospital care. “Had they been in cities such as Delhi or Mumbai, they would not have lost their lives,” he says.
According to many priests and nuns lived and died in rural areas. “They worked among the poor who had no access or could afford multispecialty hospitals. They died like the people for whom they lived,” he adds
At the same time, he knew some cases of priests getting infected because of carelessness.
“Many priests and religious are reluctant to wear masks, keep social distance, or use sanitize. We still continue without observing proper Covid protocols. We have taken life lightly,” he regrets.
He also points out many believe there is nothing wrong with getting sick and presume they would get better in a few days. “Call it arrogance or ignorance, we are not serious about Covid protocols even after hearing about the deaths of so many priests and religious.”
According to him, many priests are now reluctant to take vaccines. “Life is God’s property gifted to us. Destruction of our life by negligence is a grave matter. Please take care of oneself and others,” Father Mathew pleads.
So many priests and nuns have died for Covid-19. Those who are in the first place to serve others, they should be careful with personal protection and then help others. There are protection guidelines for the first responders. The primary duty of every first responders is of their own but at the same time their superiors such as bishops, archbishops, house superiors also has the responsibility to see if the first responders in their communities, parishes and dioceses are well protected. Nobody can excuse from their responsibilities. May all those victims for Covid pandemic rest in heaven.
Let us also objectively study the data, without ascribing reasons. According to social activist Yogendra Yadav 1:1000 is the normal death ratio in 50 days. According to the Indian Medical Association 420 doctors died in the second wave. Assuming that there are 5,00,000 doctors in India the ratio comes to 1::1190. For 181 priest deaths from 30,000 the ratio is a high 1:166. For 166 deaths among 103,000 sisters the ratio is 1:620. This merits serious study.
In the past I have repeatedly drawn attention to the inordinately high number of deaths by suicide or in road accidents by priests in India. This demands a scientific sociological and psychological study by the CBCI/ CRI.
Deeply grateful to Suresh for his systematic work. Through his first list I came to know of the death of two priests known to me, both from the IMS Congregation.
Good effort to give useful information
Taking care of self is to be given priority.Even funeral services could be performed as per covid protocols.When the country is on lockdown it is important to prioritize the work to be undertaken by the religious.Many congregations and dioceses may not have a mechanism to provide the safety and care providedby families.
It is very important that the priests follow the covid protocol very strictly. The guide lines given by the doctors of St. John’s should be followed. Some priests and nuns are very careless . After they return from outside for any work they should see that they are washed thoroughly and changed their clothes before they join the community.
I could quess the name of the publication that Cappuchian Mathew edits. From personal experience I would like to qualify their boldness as one that is limited “to a point”.
The moral of the story for Catholic Church is the need to rearrange their priorities. They are in hospital business big time, at least in Kerala. So when the Church wants to establish itself in remote areas they should start with a mini version of one of their multispeciality hospital first then church. school etc.
May all the deceased be found worthy to share in the Kingdom of God. Until then, rest in peace.
In my comments above: “This hospital lacks basic Covid Care facilities. So admission there for Covid care is a sure recipe for death.”, it should read: So admitting a patient there for Covid or other critical care would be taking a huge life risk.
What is the message?
1) The priests and nuns are “so committed to their service” that their own health takes a backseat.
2) The priests and nuns are “careless and lethargic” about the spread of the deadly virus.
3) The Dioceses and Religious congregations seem to have failed in protecting their own men and women.
Lesson:
It is time for the Catholic Church to wake up, examine and do sincere introspection on why such deaths have occurred, where are the loopholes and what are the effective preventive measures or systems to protect every life.
Fr Suresh Mathew’s exercise on the compilation of Covid-19 deaths of priests and nuns is indeed very painstaking and at the same time praiseworthy. He is right in having said that the exercise requires a further probe into the reasons for the death of so many young priests and nuns below 50. The latest was Sister Pranita Lepcha in Kolkata Archdiocese. She was only 43 years of age.
It is not known whether the above compilation is only of deaths from the Second Wave of Covid. If it is from the first wave, then the Archdiocese of Calcutta has lost many more priests than the topper Trichur Archdiocese with 9 deaths. In the first phase, there were several deaths in the Salesian Province Kolkata only. A list may be sought from Nitika Salesian Provincial House, Kolkata or Fr Dominic Gomes (Vicar General and PRO) of Calcutta Archdiocese.
Regarding the reasons for untimely death, one reason certainly is lack of Immunity. Immunity cannot be achieved overnight with a few multi-vitamins. It has to be built up through a concerted Mother-and-Child Healthcare programme in each parish under each diocese (174 as mentioned by Fr Suresh). Both the brain development and immunity of a child is best developed during 0-5 years phase. Fr Suresh and Health Commissions of each Diocese may work unitedly on this Immunity building up exercise. Building up well-equipped Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and beefing up the existing ones, is also a very good step in Immunity Building. A strong Immunity will stand is good stead in times of epidemics and Pandemics. This exercise is low-cost compared to the high cost of medication and hospitalisation we are witnessing today.
It would be interesting to know the Healthcare policies of each of the 174 dioceses. Healthcare policies should be humane irrespective of the financial condition of a diocese. What is CBCI’s role in ensuring a uniform healthcare policy? Are all priests and nuns covered under substantial Mediclaim Policies (say a minimum of Rupees Five Lac each)? It is the duty of the Bishop / Archbishop of each diocese to declare a Healthcare Policy for priests and nuns under him. These Mediclaim Policies should be reported by Diocesan Finance Committees,each year. From personal experience I know many priests and nuns are totally in the dark which hospitals they will be taken in times of crises. If they are worried about their medical care, how can serve our community with a free mind? In Calcutta Archdiocese, priests of a well-to-do congregation are all hospitalised in Fortis, whereas others are hospitalised in an ad hoc manner in Mission of Mercy Hospitals, etc. Recently Fr Victor David (68 years) Parish Priest of Our Lady of Happy Voyage, Howrah was hospitalised in Mission of Mercy Hospital for Covid treatment. He was quite strong, yet he passed away. This hospital lacks basic Covid Care facilities. So admission there for Covid care is a sure recipe for death.
In this regard Cardinal Oswald Gracias has issued a circular dated 06th May 2021, to all Bishops/Archbishops, regarding Covid Care protocols to be followed by priests and religious sisters. This protocol has been prepared by doctors Dr. Sr. Angela Rodrigues, Dr. Anil D’Cruz, Dr. Marcella D’Souza, Dr. Mary Ann Muckaden and Dr. Ravindra Gherard former students of St John’s College, Bangalore. It is a very comprehensive note on. I sought some clarifications from the Cardinal on the authenticity of the 7-page guidelines and he readily confirmed that he had issued the circular.
If the following names have not been included, kindly see that they are included in the list.
Covid19 victims from the diocese of Thoothukudi, Tamilnadu.
1. Fr. Savarimuthu, 41 years, parish priest of Othasai Matha Church, Eral.
2. Fr. G. Joseph, 62 years, parish priest of RC Church, Pathinathapuram.
3. Fr. Sahayaraj Rayan, 50 years, Financial Admininstrator, St. Thomas School, Thoothukudi.
Thanks for keeping a track. It is really shocking. May their souls rest in peace 🙏
Losing 181 priests and 166 nuns to the virus is indeed sad. Strength and courage to all their loved ones. Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let your perpetual light shine upon the departed brethren.