By Matters India Reporter

Mangaluru, March 3, 2024: A Catholic priest, who was on an annual house blessing visit to his parishioners, ended up with a suspension order from Mangalore diocese for misbehaving with an elderly couple.

A video footage that went viral on February 29, shows Father Nelson Olivera of the Christ the King Church at Manela in Bantwal Taluk, indulging in a physical fight with the couple.

In the CCTC footage, the priest was seen dragging Gregory Monteiro from near his car to the house while the 79-year-old parishioner’s wife Philomena resisted the priest with a stick.

A press note from the diocese stated that the priest was immediately suspended from his parish ministry and relieved from all charges.

“We are deeply saddened by the incident and as an immediate response, the concerned priest would be removed from the religious ministry at Christ the King church,” said the press note signed by the diocesan public relations office.

The couple, who has filed a case in the Vittal police station, is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital. The priest is also admitted to the hospital.

The press note said the diocese will “fully cooperate with the law enforcing authorities” while it will initiate canonical inquiries into the matter to “take adequate future course of action in a just and fair manner.”

A local parishioner, who preferred anonymity, said the said couple had some personal grudges with Father Olivera and Monteiro objected to the priest visiting their home.

Once the priest was inside his compound, the man locked the gate and verbally abused the priest and a lay representative of the ward, leading to the physical assault.

The parishioner also said it was the couple who started the arguments with the priest, who lost his control when they locked the gate blocking the priest from leaving.

Father Faustine Lobo, a senior priest of the diocese, says the priest should have been cool and more prudent, instead of reacting to the couple who provoked him.

“By doing this, he has set a bad example during this period of lent,” he told Matters India March 3.

Father Olivera was not available for comments, although Matters India tried to contact him.