By Jose Kavi
New Delhi, July 23, 2023: A priest, suspended for his “grave disobedience” and causing public scandals, says nothing will deter his mission is to cleanse the Kerala Church, particularly his Syro-Malabar Church.
“I see the suspension as the first acknowledgment of my new mission. I also know that many more crosses are being prepared for me,” Father Ajimon (Thomas) Puthiyaparambil told Matters India July 22.
The Syro-Malabar diocese of Thamarassery in the southern Indian state of Kerala dismissed the 46-year-old priest on July 18 after he refused to take charge as the parish priest of St Joseph’s Church Nooramthode.
A “Decree of Suspension,” issued by Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil of Thamarassery, says Father Puthiyaparambil was suspended after “having heard” him to explain “the scandalous situation created by his public grave disobedience.”
The decree also points out that Father Puthiyaparambil was served the transfer order on April 29. However, on May 13 he announced through a letter his decision to quit parish ministry. The letter was addressed to his parishioners in Mukkom, which his parish then, and Nooramthode, and “the brothers and sisters in the Kerala Church.”
Father Puthiyaparambil had told Matters India in mid-May that he had declined to accept any parish ministry but would continue “to live the values of a Catholic priesthood.”
The priest, who has served several parishes after his ordination on December 30, 2002, said he has a prophetic call to follow the teachings of Christ “in its real sense” and work for eliminating the decay in the Church.
He was upset with some recent scandals related to Syro-Malabar Church leaders, including Cardinal George Alencherry, its head.
“The Church suffers from moral turpitude and lack of financial transparency. There are court cases against bishops and many of them openly indulge in political alliance,” he explained.
Bishop Inchananiyil says the priest violated the canon law by “obstinately” insisting in his decision despite the prelate and the curia members urging him several times to return to the diocese and take up the new ministry.
The prelate also accused the priest of taking a public stand against the decision of the Syro-Malabar Synod through public speeches and messages in the social media, “causing scandal and violating ecclesiastical discipline.”
The bishop then suspended the priest from exercising all priestly ministry such as celebrating Mass and administering other Sacraments, until further orders.
The bishop then offers him Good Shepherd Priest Home in Kozhikode for his stay during the suspension.
He recommended the priest to trust in the “Mercy of the Lord and to take refuge in His forgiving love.”
Maintaining that he has no problem with the diocese, Father Puthiyaparambil says he is not going away from Jesus.
“The first thing I want to say is that I still love the diocese of Thamarassery and all the people of God in the diocese as I loved them before,” he said and urged the people not to be provoked over his suspension or do something “contrary to the love of God.”
He also said that he is convinced that neither the diocese nor its leaders have any problems with him personally. “I have taken up the task of trying to eliminate the many decays faced by the Kerala Church in general and the Syro-Malabar Church in particular. I knew then that it was the way of the cross full of stones and thorns.”
Accepting his suspension as God’s will, the priest said he would become one of God’s people, attend Mass and receive Sacraments.
“Only the flowers in me have been cut, but no one can stop the spring that is Christ,” he said.
Puthiyaparambil said he became a priest to follow Christ, by giving up many things. “Therefore, I am happy to leave the privileges and security of the priesthood for the new mission that Christ has entrusted to me. I will continue to trust in God,” he added.
He said his fight against the rottenness entrenched in the Kerala Church will continue. He offered his support to the priests and people of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese who opposed spiritual and cultural invasion by Chaldeanism.
“I will also raise my voice against the tentacles of hatred that are trying to take deep roots in the Kerala Church today,” he added.
He challenged his bishop’s accusation that his writings and messages have offended people. “But no one has told me that there is any untruth in what I have said. One of the accusations against Christ was that he was leading people astray.”
He also disputed the bishop’s claim that he was given a hearing before the suspension. “It is common justice to give an official show cause notice before punishing someone. If there is no such thing in canon law, it should be written anew,” he asserted.
He also faulted the bishop’s statement that he had gone into hiding. “Spreading falsehood is disgraceful to anyone,” he added.
Something doesn’t ring true. A Catholic priest is very powerful and can effect great change. His actions don’t make sense. Either quit the priesthood and join us laity. He can’t have his cake and eat it too.