Prof. Augustine Veliath

The Catholic Church proclaims itself as a champion of justice, compassion, and the protection of the vulnerable. Yet, its silence on cases of gender violence often betrays these values. The tragic case of Shiney Kuriakose and her two daughters, who ended their lives by jumping in front of a train in Ettumanoor, Kerala, lays bare this glaring contradiction.

Shiney, a victim of unrelenting domestic abuse, sought help from the police months before her death, but her pleas went unanswered. Her daughters, too, endured unimaginable suffering, as revealed by the post-mortem report that showed they had not eaten for 18 hours before their deaths. Denied even a “last supper,” their lives were extinguished in a tragedy that unfolded during Lent, a time meant for reflection, compassion, and renewal.

The question now looms large: How many more Shineys are there? How many more women are suffering in silence, abandoned by the very institutions meant to protect them? Shiney’s death is not an isolated incident—it is a symptom of a systemic failure that demands immediate attention and action.

1. Institutional Stability Over Justice

The Church has long been accused of prioritizing its reputation over justice. Publicly, it preaches compassion and fairness. Privately, it often works to shield itself from controversy, even when this comes at the expense of the vulnerable.

Shiney Kuriakose’s case is a painful reminder of this troubling pattern. Despite her suffering and desperate need for intervention, the Church offered no meaningful support or guidance. Critics argue that the Church’s silence reflects its unwillingness to confront uncomfortable truths. This silence, they say, protects institutional stability while leaving victims like Shiney and her daughters to fend for themselves.

By failing to act, the Church sends a dangerous message: that the preservation of its image is more important than the lives of those it serves. This prioritization of institutional stability over justice perpetuates a culture of neglect, where victims are ignored, and perpetrators are emboldened.

2. The Tragic Death of Shiney Kuriakose

Shiney Kuriakose, a mother of two, was a survivor of relentless domestic abuse. On the day of her death, she and her daughters stood on the railway tracks in Ettumanoor, Kerala, and waited for an oncoming train. The act was a desperate escape from a life of suffering, neglect, and systemic inaction.

What makes this tragedy even more heart-wrenching is the revelation from the post-mortem report: Shiney’s daughters had not eaten for 18 hours before their deaths. Their hunger, both physical and emotional, is a chilling reminder of the isolation and despair they must have felt in their final hours. They were not only failed by the system but also left to endure their suffering in silence.

Shiney had reached out for help months before her death, filing a complaint against her abuser with the police. Yet, no decisive action was taken. The Church, too, remained silent, offering no solace or intervention. The only priest who spoke about the case dismissed victims of domestic abuse with a shocking statement: “If you are a victim, don’t come to us. Go to the police.”

Shiney did go to the police—she tried to seek justice within the system. But the inaction of both the Church and the authorities sealed her fate. Tragically, the police only acted after her death, a response too little and far too late.

3. Silence During the Lenten Period

Shiney’s death occurred during Lent, a sacred season of reflection, repentance, and renewal in the Christian faith. This period calls on believers to emulate Christ’s compassion and stand in solidarity with those who are suffering. Yet, the Church’s silence in the face of Shiney’s tragedy is deafening.

Maundy Thursday, which commemorates Christ’s Last Supper, is a day to reflect on service, love, and sacrifice. Yet, Shiney’s daughters were denied even their “last supper,” a haunting parallel that underscores the Church’s failure to embody Christ’s teachings.

Instead of addressing the systemic issues that led to Shiney’s death, the Church’s leaders have remained silent. No bishop has spoken out. No institution has taken accountability. This silence during a season of hope and redemption deepens the betrayal felt by victims and their families.

4. Internal Mechanisms That Fail Victims

The Church has long relied on its internal mechanisms—canonical law—to address disputes and allegations of abuse. These systems are often opaque, slow, and designed to protect the institution rather than deliver justice.

Victims of abuse frequently find themselves sidelined, their voices minimized by a system that prioritizes confidentiality and institutional unity. By failing to engage with external systems like the police in a timely and effective manner, the Church perpetuates a culture of neglect.

Shiney’s case highlights the devastating consequences of this failure. Despite her attempts to seek help, she was met with apathy and inaction. The Church’s refusal to prioritize transparency and accountability leaves victims like Shiney with nowhere to turn.

5. Cultural and Doctrinal Bias

The Church’s hierarchical structure and traditional teachings often create a culture that inadvertently sides with perpetrators. Teachings on obedience, family unity, and reconciliation discourage victims, especially women, from speaking out.

The language of forgiveness, central to the Church’s doctrine, is often weaponized against victims. They are pressured to forgive their abusers, while accountability for perpetrators is sidelined. This creates an environment where abuse is tolerated, and justice is denied.

In Shiney’s case, this cultural bias was evident in the Church’s failure to condemn her abuser or provide meaningful support. Instead of standing with the vulnerable, the Church perpetuated a culture of silence and inaction.

6. Social Media Speaks When Leaders Stay Silent

While Church leaders have remained silent, ordinary people have taken to social media to express their outrage. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter have been flooded with posts mourning Shiney’s death and demanding accountability from both the Church and secular authorities.
This grassroots activism underscores the growing disconnect between the Church hierarchy and its followers. The silence of bishops and clergy has left a void that the public is now filling. However, social media outrage alone cannot bring about the systemic reforms needed to prevent future tragedies.
The only priest who addressed the issue further alienated victims with his dismissive remark: “If you’re a victim, go to the police.” His words highlight the lack of empathy and responsibility within the institution, further eroding trust among the faithful.

7. Systemic Failures

Shiney’s case is not an isolated incident. Across the world, the Church has been criticized for its handling of gender violence and abuse. Patterns of inaction, secrecy, and victim-blaming persist, creating an environment where perpetrators feel protected, and victims feel abandoned.

Processes often lack independent oversight and transparency, leading to significant delays and a lack of accountability. Allegations of abuse are handled internally, prioritizing institutional reputation over justice. This approach perpetuates cycles of suffering and silence.

Shiney’s death, and the deaths of her daughters, is a stark reminder of these systemic failures. Her cries for help went unanswered, and her tragedy could have been prevented if the Church and secular systems had acted when she first reached out.

8. A Call for Reform

The Church must take urgent action to address its systemic failures. Public declarations of justice and compassion must be matched by concrete reforms. Critics demand:

Transparency: Open and accountable processes to address abuse allegations.

Collaboration: A commitment to working with secular authorities to ensure justice.

Victim-Centric Policies: Systems that prioritize the safety, dignity, and well-being of survivors.

The silence of Church leaders in cases like Shiney Kuriakose’s cannot continue. By failing to act, they undermine the Church’s moral authority and betray the values they claim to uphold.

True reform requires courage. It demands accountability, empathy, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. Only by addressing these systemic issues can the Church hope to regain the trust of its followers and fulfill its mission of justice and compassion.

Conclusion

The death of Shiney Kuriakose and her daughters raises the haunting question: How many more Shineys are there? How many more women and children are suffering in silence, abandoned by the institutions meant to protect them?

Lent is a season of reflection, penance, and renewal. But for Shiney and her daughters, it ended in despair. Their deaths demand more than silence—they demand systemic change.

Reverends, silence in the face of gender violence is violence. The Church must rise to the occasion, supporting victims and holding perpetrators accountable. Only then can it truly embody the values it preaches.

Isiah, Jeremiah, and John the Baptist—please return to the Church.

10 Comments

  1. Abuse by church-run institutions can be in varied forms, not always physical. These institutions inflict continuous mental torture on members of their staff by keeping them on Contractual Terms for years without straightaway putting them on Probation and then making them permanent. St Clarets’ School Barrackpore, 24 Parganas North, West Bengal (under the Archdiocese of Calcutta) is one such school which perennially bleeds its members of staff by keeping them on Contract for years. In some cases, the school even reversed the cases of some staff members who were on Probation and instead of making them (good teachers) permanent, they were put on Contract.

    The Principal’s message on the school website is totally hypocritical which reads: “St. Claret has been championing the changing seasons and adopted herself to the most scientific way of learning with the uniqueness of holistic formation after the model of “Happiness Curriculum”. How can there be Happiness Curriculum when the teaching and non-teaching staff are bleeding?

    St Claret’s recruitment policy is totally in violation of the CBCI Education Policy adopted in October 2017 at Navjivan Renewal Centre, St. Xavier’s Campus, Delhi. Point 5 the resolution adopted at the CBCI Report of the National Education Consultation held on 24 and 25 October 2017 under the head “What is announced as planned for Implementation” states: “Staff on contract service will not be allowed anymore.” This provision is being flagrantly violated with impunity as most teachers are not aware of this resolution! Link:http://www.cbcieducation.com/report_of_the_national_education.aspx

    There are several other Church-run institutions which are indulging in this malpractice of playing with the lives of members of staff by keeping their future hanging in uncertainty and in total violation of CBCI Education Policy of “Staff on contract service will not be allowed anymore” as mentioned above. How can one expect from the Church justice, for which Shiney Kuriakose and her two daughters ran from pillar to post? How can church-run institutions like St Claret’s call themselves `Catholic’?

  2. Abuse by church-run institutions can be in varied forms, not necessarily physical. These institutions inflict continuous mental torture (slow bleeding of Christ on the Cross) on members of their staff by keeping them on Contractual Terms for years without putting them on Probation and then making them permanent. St Clarets’ School Barrackpore, 24 Parganas North, West Bengal (under the Archdiocese of Calcutta) is one such school which perennially bleeds its members of staff by keeping them on Contract for years. In some cases, the school even reversed the cases of some staff members who were on Probation and instead of making them (good teachers) permanent, they were put on Contract.

    The Principal’s message on the school website is totally hypocritical which reads: “St. Claret has been championing the changing seasons and adopted herself to the most scientific way of learning with the uniqueness of holistic formation after the model of “Happiness Curriculum”. How can there be Happiness Curriculum when the teaching and non-teaching staff are bleeding?

    St Claret’s recruitment policy is totally in violation of the CBCI Education Policy adopted in October 2017 at Navjivan Renewal Centre, St. Xavier’s Campus, Delhi. Point 5 the resolution adopted at the CBCI Report of the National Education Consultation held on 24 and 25 October 2017 under the head “What is announced as planned for Implementation” states: “Staff on contract service will not be allowed anymore.” This provision is being flagrantly violated with impunity as most teachers are not aware of this resolution! Link:http://www.cbcieducation.com/report_of_the_national_education.aspx

    There are several other Church-run institutions which are indulging in this malpractice of playing with the lives of members of staff by keeping their future hanging in uncertainty. How can one expect from the Church justice, for which Shiney Kuriakose and her two daughters ran from pillar to post? How can church-run institutions like St Claret’s call themselves `Catholic’? How are they different from the high priests who masterminded the crucifixion of Christ?

  3. Totaly agree, was travelling on the road in Kerala today. As it Good Friday and the roads I went through has a high Syro Malabar population. One witnessed crucfix scenes being enacted, and long disciplined lines of good Christians going in processions. Seemingly untouched by the death by suicide of two mothers along with their children, or the over two months protest of Asha workers for fair wages. Nothing to beat the comfort of fasting and feasting:-(

  4. Shiney was joined a few weeks later by another Christian ,Jismol ,found with her 2 children [1 and 3 years) drowned in a river, and Tara who burnt herself and her 2 children when she knew her expat husband was on his way home.
    I wholeheartedly agree with the article, but I would as convenor of the Indian Christian Women’s Movement , would also examine women’s groups in our parishes and communities, and women as individuals in families, workplaces and elsewhere. We also deny the Shineys in our lives and their stories of pain and suffering, denial of dignity, trampled rights etc. Shiney was supposedly active in her Church. How sensitive are we to what people we know are struggling with? Can we listen to their cries, silent or otherwise? Can we challenge the systems of patriarchy in our homes, churches and institutions that foster these hidden shadows on our communities and religious congregations? Can we wake up to the situation and respond with the heart and mind of Christ?

  5. Sad reality! Most church leaders are far away from the hard struggles of the ordinary people. Yet, they never fail to enact a drama of “washing of the feet of a few women” on Maundy Thursday, year after year. They confine themselves to meaningless liturgies and empty rituals that are never related to the real life of the people.

    I quote from the article: “The only priest who addressed the issue further alienated victims with his dismissive remark: “If you’re a victim, go to the police.” His words highlight the lack of empathy and responsibility within the institution, further eroding trust among the faithful.”

    The above mindset and reaction are the bitter reality today. A vast majority of the clergy (Cardinals, Arch/bishops, priests and nuns) live in their “own secured world” and hence they are unable to understand the struggles that common people go through. Servant leadership is expressed through our thoughts, words and deeds in our day-to-day life. Are the clergy ready to do this?

  6. @Isaac Gomes

    Here are the available English media reports on the tragic case of Shiny Kuriakose and her two daughters in Kerala. I tried to give them as weblinks to you. But system does not allow that. Media and Social Media have given extensive coverage.The hierarchy, the clergy, and our gender justice conscious sisters embarass the Church by failing to take a stand.

    Here are the available English media reports on the tragic case of Shiny Kuriakose and her two daughters in Kerala:

    1. **The Hindu**: “Mother, two daughters’ suicide: Husband held for abetment”[^1](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/mother-two-daughters-suicide-husband-held-for-abetment/article69294765.ece )

    – This report covers the arrest of Noby Kuriakose of Thodupuzha, who was booked on charges of abetment of suicide in connection with the death of his wife, Shiny Kuriakose (43), and their daughters.

    2. **The Hindu**: “Even after arrest, controversy over suicide of woman and daughters continue to rage”[^2](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/even-after-arrest-controversy-over-suicide-of-woman-and-daughters-continue-to-rage/article69298674.ece )
    – This follow-up article discusses the continuing controversy surrounding the case even after the arrest of the husband.

    3. **Manorama Online**: “Suicide of Kottayam woman, 2 daughters: Husband held on abetment charges”[^3](https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2025/03/05/suicide-kottayam-woman-two-daughters-husband-held-abetment-charges.html)
    – This report mentions allegations by Shiny’s father that she was a victim of domestic abuse and violence, leading to the arrest of her husband Noby Lukose.

    4. **Times of India**: “Woman and 2 daughters found dead on railway tracks in Kerala’s Kottayam”[^4](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/woman-and-2-daughters-found-dead-on-railway-tracks-in-keralas-kottayam/articleshow/118619867.cms )
    – This article reports the initial discovery of Shiny Kuriakose and her two daughters, Aleena and Ivana, on a railway track in Kottayam.

    5. **Manorama Online**: “Suicide of Kottayam woman, 2 daughters: Police assume mobile phone missing”[^5]
    (https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2025/03/08/kottayam-woman-suicide-phone-missing-no-clue-for-police.html )
    – This report provides additional details about the investigation, noting that Shiny (42) and her two daughters Aleena (11) and Evana (10) ended their lives by jumping in front of a train on Parolickal rail tracks in Ettumanoor. It also mentions the missing mobile phone that could have provided clues to investigators.

    These reports cover various aspects of this tragic case, from the initial discovery to the subsequent arrest of the husband on abetment charges and the ongoing investigation.

  7. There are a couple of errors in my comments:

    Point 2 – “No a single case has been solved. Justice is to seen being done to be believed” should read as follows:
    NOT a single case been solved by the Archdiocese of Calcutta and for that matter, most of the dioceses.
    Also justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done.

    Point 4: “The Church’s leaders have remained silent. That’s precisely they are made leaders!” should read:
    The Church’s leaders have remained silent. That’s precisely the reason they are made leaders!

  8. There are a couple of typing errors in my comments:

    Under point 2 it should read:
    (a) NOT a single case has been solved.
    (b) Justice is to be seen being done to be believed. There is no such evidence in the Archdiocese of Calcutta and in so many other dioceses as happened in the instant case in Kerala.

  9. The following points mentioned in the report are dead right:

    1. The Catholic Church proclaims itself as a champion of justice, compassion, and the protection of the vulnerable. Yet, its silence on cases of gender violence often betrays these values.
    2. The Church preaches compassion and fairness. In reality, it tries to save its skin first and works to shield itself from controversy, even when this comes at the expense of the vulnerable. This is especially when the keeper (priest/bishop) is the perpetrator. We have cases galore! In the Archdiocese of Calcutta, several cases have been swept under the carpet. A victim was terminated from her service during peak Covid period. No a single case has been solved. Justice is to seen being done to be believed.
    3. The Church’s hierarchical structure and traditional teachings often create a culture that inadvertently sides with perpetrators. This is explained in point 2 Kolkata incident. There are many more.
    4. The Church’s leaders have remained silent. That’s precisely they are made leaders!
    5. Across the world, the Church has been criticized for its handling of gender violence and abuse. Sorry this phenomenon is prevalent only in the Indian Church and not across the world. Several churches are infested with priests and bishops who use strong-arm tactics through their connections. One principal of a Catholic school in Kolkata (point 2) would openly boast no one can do anything to him as he has a lot of contacts with top judges and police officers whose sons studied in his school!

    All said and done, the reporter does not mention who the Abuser of the three victims was. Was it someone in the family or was the perpetrator a powerful one from the Hierarchy?

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