By Ladislaus Louis D’Souza
Mumbai: “Have you seen this tamasha, Father?” asked Babush,* the sacristan who often doubled up as ‘Table-boy.’
“What tamasha, Babush?”
“That holy suicide! A 31-year old priest, Pradeep Soreng, was found hanging dead in his bathroom yesterday” [Saint Vincent Minor Seminary, Gopalpur-on-the-Sea, some 175 km southwest of Bhubaneswar, state capital of Odisha – Matters India, 5 July 2021].
“Sad!” said Father Joseph Gnanaprakash, the parish priest.
“Indeed!” retorted Babush. “Every now and then we come across some priest or nun committing suicide! At this rate suicide will become like common sardi-khasi in the Church!”
“Well, what to do?”
“I’ll tell you what to do, Father!” blurted Babush agitatedly as he served the priest his breakfast.
“What….?”
“You know, when we were growing up, we never heard of priests and nuns committing suicide. On the contrary, we would look up to them with reverence. The sudden suicide trend has a trail of a 100 reasons—tension, workload, loneliness and what not! Even love affairs, mind you! What are we coming to?”
Babush, now in his late 70s, had virtually earned his right to chat in this manner with his parish priest, having been there since the inception of the parish some five decades ago, witnessing much change.
The priest was alone at breakfast. One assistant, Father Joel Cruz had left for his annual vacation the previous night and the other assistant, Father Tobias Jones was expected back from his vacation around noon that day.
“Babush,” the priest said, “I understand your anguish. Do feel free to express yourself very frankly.”
“Father, you’re a senior priest and understand people well. Besides, your name means ‘light of knowledge’.”
“Hmmm… didn’t think of that!”
“The time has come for priests like you to share the light of knowledge so as to stop this madness that has crept into priestly and religious life. I strongly suggest that you talk to the bishop about getting something like say – what you call ‘counseling’, included in the curriculum of the seminary.”
“Go on.”
“Those under formation must be enabled to understand that they are entering the priestly/religious life for two specific purposes: for the sake of their own salvation and for the salvation of souls. They must be trained thoroughly to handle situations in the priestly or religious life as mature adults. After all, when we lay people have problems we turn to our priests and religious for support. If priests and nuns indulge in murder, be it their own or others’, how can we approach them for advice? Besides, what about that statement of Saint Paul which the bishop utters to the ordinandi before the laying on of hands: May God who has begun a good work in you bring it to completion [cf Phil 1:6]? Is suicide part of the completion process, Father?”
“I’m afraid not, Babush.”
“Any youth under formation, unable to handle what they foresee and who thus feel like quitting would be best allowed—even encouraged—to leave at that stage rather than after making their final commitment. Do they realize what scandal they create by quitting as full-fledged priests or religious?”
“Also, look at the kind of life our younger priests and religious live – what style! Latest branded garments and accessories! Roaring friendships with the opposite sex! I know of a priest who came from a family in which priestly vocations ran deep. Within six months of his first posting following an extravagant ordination celebration on parish precincts, a fling with a young parishioner had him married before the oil of Chrism on his palms had even dried! The padre’s mother, a respectable woman, suffered a nervous breakdown!”
“That’s bad!”
“Why go far, Father – in this very parish, years ago, a newly-ordained priest did something similar! When I expressed surprise at the sudden development while chatting with him on his last day here, can you guess what he said, that shameless fellow?”
“No – what..?”
“He said, ‘Arrey! Why are you so surprised! As a seminarian, I used to moonlight as a keyboardist in various hotels! Moreover, I always wanted to marry this girl who I was dating before I joined the seminary, but I also wanted to try out the priesthood.’ And the icing on the cake: he was appointed to “try out the priesthood” in the very church where his girlfriend was a parishioner! Can you beat that?! As if that wasn’t enough, within five months of his exit from the priesthood and four months into his marriage, he came here for a funeral hand-in-hand with a wife who was 8-months pregnant!”
“Father,” he continued after a moment’s silence, still very agitated, “You’d better keep an eye on your two assistants—you’d need to observe them closely and talk to them, particularly that Father Cruz before he becomes a ‘cross’ to you and the parish. Inspire them to sort things out so that they are clear about what they want in life as priests and eliminate from their lives what is not of the priesthood.”
“Tall order, Babush! But, you have a point! Yes, I must henceforth take my own responsibilities towards our young priests more seriously before it is too late. Thank you for opening my eyes to the urgency. And yes, please don’t forget to pray for me and for my two young Assistants!”
“Count on me, Father!”
(All names other than that of the priest-suicidee have been changed for reasons of privacy.)
There’s this lack of emotional intelligence among the aspiring students during formation.. Training pattern during formation should be changed.. and clear cut councelling and discussion must be done before final vows.. sexual education as to how to deal diligently with opposite sex should be apprised to the candidates during formation.
I also strongly believe that annual fishing expeditions to impoverished rural areas to pick up docile young boys for minor seminaries must stop immediately. A young man should be at least 21 years of age before entering any seminary.
Well expressed. I have repeatedly said in these columns that the CBCI CRI CPCI etc must conduct a detailed psychological and sociological survey on such suicides.
I also feel that the complexities and tensions of modern life are no longer conducive for celibacy. Today one needs companionship and empathy more than ever before.
The story is interesting. It has cited examples of priests who have left and got married.
What about those who “continue to be priests/bishops” and yet
a) involved in sexual life and have illegal wives and children?
b) baptize their own children?
c) buy properties and build homes for their illegal wives?
d) sexually abuse nuns?
e) involved in murder and other types of corruptions?
The classic examples are bishops Franco William and many other priests whose names are not publicized. A thorough overhauling is the need of the hour.
Babush like simple layman read signs of D time without any formal rigorous training in formation houses n seminaries. They hv life experience n they go by wisdom. In this conversation between Babush n Parish priest there is a lot of truth. Suicide by clergy or religious becomes ultimate step when no other option is left. It is well expressed as new ‘Sardi-Khansi’. That’s d new normal for those who sail their boats in two legs. One is matter of convenience n another to satisfy basic human need. Babush type lay experts shud b recognised more within d pattern of formation to utilise their experience in pastoral field. A senior priest who did not hv much brain but had a lot of common sense. He was well qualified in common sense. In order to fight this new normal ‘Sarsi-Khansi’ as n when diagnosed d medicine of common sense can help remove this malady of suicide by clergy n religious.