By Varghese Alengaden

Indore, Dec 22, 2022: For the last few years, the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala has been in the news for bad reasons.

Conflicts in the name of silly and irrational matters raised by the hierarchy, priests and religious have become so common that many simple people have started doubting about the relevance of their religious practices, and preaching by priests and bishops.

It is nothing but misuse of authority by the Church leaders and priestly class to safeguard personal egos and institutionalism. Bishops arriving at the Church institutions with protection of police force and filing cases against their own priests and laity make the Christian community a laughing stock before the followers of other faiths.

Instead of initiating dialogue and discussion, the leaders demand blind obedience. Allegations and counter-allegations in the media and washing the dirty linen in public are causing great scandal to the faithful and others. All these aberrations are betrayal of Christ and His teachings.

Imposing unilaterally the trivial uniformity in celebrating Mass by the hierarchy and refusal by 400 hundred priests and 500,000 laity of the 100-year-old Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly should be solved by following the way of Christ.

Instead of misusing the authority, the Church leaders should study and contemplate on the life and teachings of Christ on Good Shepherd leadership.

Pluralism is the heritage that Jesus has given to His disciples. The whole creation of God is based on the law of pluralism. Why should the hierarchy follow the BJP-RSS way of imposing uniformity on all Indians who belong to diverse cultures?

The bishops, priests and all Christians should realize that Jesus wanted reconciliation first and worship later. Why don’t they learn from the teachings of Christ about reconciliation?

“If you come to offer the gift and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave the gift there and go first reconcile with your brother and then come and offer your gift.”

Bishops and priests who are waging war against each other don’t have the right to offer Holy Mass. Jesus has said very strongly to all those who cause scandal, “it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

Jesus summarized all his teachings in one single law: “Love one another as I have loved you.” LOVE was the uniform Jesus gave to His disciples: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Today, Christians, especially the Syro-Malabar Church hierarchy, priests and laity, are known for their conflicts, hatred, division and public scandal.

It is the failure of the leaders of the Church that they file cases against their own priests and people. Isn’t it their failure that they have to come to their own house (church) with the security of a large police force?

If there is conflict in a family it is the duty of the parents to initiate dialogue and reconciliation. Why do the bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala behave like authoritarian political leaders instead of following the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd who goes after the lost sheep and carries it on his shoulder?

Brother Roger of the Taizé community had said, “When you want to work for reconciliation don’t ask who is right and who is wrong. Just get reconciled.”

Condemning the narrow legalism and rigid rules, Jesus had said. “Sabbat is for man, not man for Sabbat.” Yet how dare the priests and bishops refuse to visit the family of the deceased and conduct the funeral with the lame excuse of his/her long absence from the Church.

A young man who was baptized in the Church, received the Holy Communion and studied catechism was missing for some time from home and found dead in a train accident near to his house. He was refused a decent burial by the parish priest.

Instead of consoling the family members who suffer the loss of their dear one, the priests and Church authorities put further burden of humiliation and public insult on them?

Why do they place man-made laws by abandoning the liberative teaching of Christ? Why don’t the priests and hierarchy learn from Jesus who placed human beings above all laws?

Since the incident happened near my neighbourhood, I decided to visit the family and prayed silently and blessed all who were present. The family members all who were present were grateful for my presence and blessing.

I was very disturbed by the developments in Kerala Syro-Malabar Church when I visited the state just for a couple of days. I write these reflections after meeting and interacting with many people.

I was sad to know that Archbishop Antony Kariyil, who was forced to resign by his own fellow bishops in the Synod of Bishops, was ordered not to stay in the boundary of the diocese to which he belongs.

He is forbidden to offer Mass publicly or preside over any public functions. He is confined to the boundaries of a monastery. He had suffered much and was hospitalized for many days. Yet none of the bishops of the Syro-Malabar Synod, except two retired bishops and two others, even thought of visiting him.

All the bishops gather for their synod just a few kilometers away from the monastery where he spends his days in prayer and solitude. Where is the compassion of these shepherds? How can they celebrate Mass and preach the Gospel of Christ?

The leaders of the Syro-Malabar Church don’t deserve to remain bishops with their inhuman and unchristian attitude and behavior. They are betraying Jesus and misusing their authority which is meant to serve their people.

Have they forgotten the example of Jesus who washed the feet of His disciples? When the Church is facing numerous challenges from the negative forces, it needs unity instead of division.

Will the concerned bishops give up their egos and pride and initiate peace and reconciliation as a celebration of peace during Christmas?