THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Early last year, a study by the Catholic church found that 25% of the nuns in Kerala were unhappy with life inside the four
walls of a convent. More recently, a former nun dropped a bombshell revealing in a book about sexual abuse and mental harassment she suffered in the order. Now,there's further confirmation of their misery and it comes from the leader of India's archbishops.
Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, who is president of Catholic Bishops Council of India, says the nuns are humiliated by priests and they live in fear.
The cardinal's views have appeared in his biography, much like the nun's own. If Sister Jesmi's book was called `Amen! Autobiography of a nun', Vithayathil's book is titled `Straight from the heart'. The cardinal tells his biographer Paul Thelakat, the spokesperson of Syro-Malabar Church, that the time has come to free the nuns from the "pitiable situation'' they are in.
"I would say to a great extent our nuns are not emancipated women. They are often kept under submission by the fear of revenge by priests. That's how the priests get away with whatever humiliation they heap upon them. It is a pitiable situation from which somebody has to liberate them,'' says the 82-year-old cardinal.
"A big complaint of our nuns is that the diocesan priests are treating them like servants, making them wash their clothes, prepare their food, wash the churches, etc and that too without getting paid. These are all unjust ways of treating the women religious.''
About the criticism against the clergy in the controversial Sister Abhaya murder, the senior priest says he believed that the Church had not tried to hide anything in the case. "The Church does not want to protect anyone.''
Vithayathil admits that there has been erosion in values in religious life. "I think asceticism has gone out of religious life.'' He also points to the growing gap between the clergy and laity.
Also, in what would be music to the ears of the Sangh Parivar, the cardinal lends legitimacy to arguments against religious conversion. "I must add that there is some truth in their contention that certain Christian groups are going about making mass conversions without any real conversion of heart.''
He says the Church believes in admitting to its fold "people who have belief in the Church'' and not in mass conversion of people "who have no faith and become Christians only nominally''. He, however, slams anti-conversion laws, which he says, have banned even legitimate conversion.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Nuns often sleep with priests
joseph
It is true but nobody wants to say outside this scandals. As far as I know many nuns from Kerala who work in northen states have good sex with priests and often sleep with them. Other scandal even in Roma and Europe countries many nun from kerala are working as nurse and doing many good ministries but a lot of nuns have sex with priests and work for money. The worst thing is when they get a chance they leave nunhood and marry some old man to settle the life. Even a normal indian girl does not like to marry old man but manythigs happen here for visa permit and for work. many nuns come from the poor family and they don’t have real voction. Just to come out and settle the family. This is happenning in abroad and vatican does not say anything. Through them lot of illegal immigrations.It is also one kind of injustice of Church doing aganist other people those who want to come italy but find many difficulties in embassy and everything because of the local kerala Church who import many illegal immigrants as nuns and as participants of many conferences. Sorry to write but it is true.
It is true but nobody wants to say outside this scandals. As far as I know many nuns from Kerala who work in northen states have good sex with priests and often sleep with them. Other scandal even in Roma and Europe countries many nun from kerala are working as nurse and doing many good ministries but a lot of nuns have sex with priests and work for money. The worst thing is when they get a chance they leave nunhood and marry some old man to settle the life. Even a normal indian girl does not like to marry old man but manythigs happen here for visa permit and for work. many nuns come from the poor family and they don’t have real voction. Just to come out and settle the family. This is happenning in abroad and vatican does not say anything. Through them lot of illegal immigrations.It is also one kind of injustice of Church doing aganist other people those who want to come italy but find many difficulties in embassy and everything because of the local kerala Church who import many illegal immigrants as nuns and as participants of many conferences. Sorry to write but it is true.
A nun’s life is under threat
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A nun’s life is under threat following her revelations about the alleged abortions performed on nuns and the “limitless”’ affairs the priests were having with nuns of the Congregation of Daughters of Mary Convent, Anchal.
Following a complaint from the nephew of this nun, the State Women’s Commission member P.K.Sainaba met the nun at a mental hospital in Thodupuzha.
Her nephew has alleged that she has been forcibly admitted to the mental hospital by the Convent authorities.
The complaint makes an even more serious charge that one of the nuns of the congregation, Sister Serenna Jacob, had committed suicide unable to bear the trauma.
Now the State Women’s Commission has sought the urgent intervention of the Health and Home Ministers in the issue. In a report submitted to the Ministers, the Commission said: “If things continue like this we fear that the life of the nun is in danger.” In her statement given to the Women’s Commission member, the nun said: “My hands and legs were tied up and I was forcibly given anaesthesia and then I was taken to the mental hospital. I am given 18 tablets a day now for making me mentally weak.” She narrated all that had happened in the convent and told the Women’s Commission member that she was ready to repeat all that she had said in the court.
The nun pleaded that she be rescued from the clutches of the convent authorities.
The 60-year-old nun has been with this congregation for the past 43 years and she had complained to her relative over phone on August 17 that she was being mentally and physically tortured by the convent authorities.
However, according to the nun’s nephew, the very next day the nun’s relatives and her brother received a call from the convent authorities seeking permission to admit her to a psychiatric hospital. Sister Lilly Thomas Paikada, Mother-Provincial, had termed the nun as extremely abnormal.
“Her sharp criticism about the abortions carried out on some sisters and her questioning about the limitless affairs with sisters and priests made the authorities violent and was the reason behind their decision to give psychiatric treatment with the intention to make it seem that her statements were meaningless and baseless,” the complaint to the Women’s Commission says.
Following a complaint from the nephew of this nun, the State Women’s Commission member P.K.Sainaba met the nun at a mental hospital in Thodupuzha.
Her nephew has alleged that she has been forcibly admitted to the mental hospital by the Convent authorities.
The complaint makes an even more serious charge that one of the nuns of the congregation, Sister Serenna Jacob, had committed suicide unable to bear the trauma.
Now the State Women’s Commission has sought the urgent intervention of the Health and Home Ministers in the issue. In a report submitted to the Ministers, the Commission said: “If things continue like this we fear that the life of the nun is in danger.” In her statement given to the Women’s Commission member, the nun said: “My hands and legs were tied up and I was forcibly given anaesthesia and then I was taken to the mental hospital. I am given 18 tablets a day now for making me mentally weak.” She narrated all that had happened in the convent and told the Women’s Commission member that she was ready to repeat all that she had said in the court.
The nun pleaded that she be rescued from the clutches of the convent authorities.
The 60-year-old nun has been with this congregation for the past 43 years and she had complained to her relative over phone on August 17 that she was being mentally and physically tortured by the convent authorities.
However, according to the nun’s nephew, the very next day the nun’s relatives and her brother received a call from the convent authorities seeking permission to admit her to a psychiatric hospital. Sister Lilly Thomas Paikada, Mother-Provincial, had termed the nun as extremely abnormal.
“Her sharp criticism about the abortions carried out on some sisters and her questioning about the limitless affairs with sisters and priests made the authorities violent and was the reason behind their decision to give psychiatric treatment with the intention to make it seem that her statements were meaningless and baseless,” the complaint to the Women’s Commission says.
Sex predators of Christian Clergy and The Church Cover-up
Sex predators of Christian Clergy and The Church Cover-up
Dr Babu Suseelan
During the past several years, the mass media in Kerala has been awash with reports of Catholic priestly pedophilia, sex abuse of nuns by the clergy, nun suicide, and Church cover-up. The politically powerful Christian Church has been reluctant to admit that sexual abuse by the clergy is a widespread occurrence. Repeated media stories report accounts of both long-term and situational incidents of nuns being sexually abused by the clergy, murder of nuns, physical abuse of children in Christian management schools, sexual abuse of children in Bible Schools, ragging in colleges and violence against nuns. The consequences of sexual abuse are traumatic and long lasting. What is hard to accept is why the Church refuses to accept sex abuse by the clergy. Sex abuse by the clergy is a harsh reality, and the Church must understand what it is, know the factors-both physical and behavioral-that may indicate its existence, and be familiar with repeated occurrence.
The general public is becoming more aware of the extent and nature of sex abuse by the priests. Nationally reported sensational trials of priestly sex abuse and murder have brought priestly deviance and Church cover-up into focused attention. The CBI investigation of the nun Abhaya murder trial, arrest of Catholic priests and supervisory nuns forced the public to confront sex abuse, murder, and the Church blame shift and cover-up. Nun Abhaya was murdered because she had witnessed priestly sex with her supervisory nuns and she spoke out against sex in the convent. Another nun Anupama had committed suicide allegedly unable to face sexual harassment by senior nuns. Another senior nun Jesme has written in detail in her autobiography about brutal, inhuman sex abuse by priests and nuns. She has reported experiences with sex abuse, attempted or actual rape, assault or violence. In spite of repeated cases of sex abuse, murder, suicide and assault, the Church has attempted “knee-jerk” reaction, cover-up or quick fixes for this emotionally charged serious problem. The Church with deep pockets and political muscle has been sabotaging high-profile cases. The widespread use of Church money and power has provided increased opportunities to provoke the impression of Christian prosecution. The political-money power of the Church prevents government from arresting, prosecuting and punishing dangerous Christian priests who are sex offenders. As a result, the police, the Judiciary and the government have been reluctant to investigate arrest or prosecute sex predators and deviant priests. The Churches are engaged in media manipulation, blame game and victim abuse. But the general public claim priestly sex abuse clearly exists and is more widespread than believed. Sex abuse by the Christian clergy creates anxiety and apprehension and present serious social problem. Several nuns have committed suicide and many others have become mentally sick.
Most disturbing were the obvious predatory offenders who would, in open defiance, refuse to admit their sex crimes have been transferred to Europe and America. Several Christian priests from Kerala were arrested in the US for lewd, lascivious, or indecent assault and are serving long-term prison sentences.
As a further influence towards sexual abuse in the Christian community, Biblical socio-cultural values that emphasize male dominance, interpersonal violence, negative values of women, and sexual exploitation of children influence sex abuse. Christian women have found that throughout the history of Christianity, the Bible has been used as a Christian scripture for sexual exploitation of women and children. The Christian scriptures contain story after story of violence against women (Genesis 34, 2 Samuel 13, Judges 19, and Daniel 13). Sexual discrimination against women is also derived from passages in the New Testament. “Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, not to usurp authority over the man but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in child bearing if they continue in faith with sobriety.” (Timothy 2:11-15). “Righteous man tells horny neighbors to rape his virgin daughters instead of taking liberties with his male guests.” (Genesis 19:1-18). “Though shall not suffer a witch to live.” (Exodus: 18-22).”God Okays captured maidens to be used as wives on a trial basis.” (Deuteronom 21-10-14). “I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the light of this sun.” (Bible God-2 Samuel 11-12). Thomas Paine in his “The Age of Reason” captures the essence of the Bible when he states; “whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and tortuous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it the word of a demon, than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind and for my part; I sincerely detest it, as I detest anything that is cruel.”
While the blame must be nightly placed on the individual priests who committed the heinous sexual acts, society must not forget that it is the Christian religion that is also generally responsible. Besides the biggest crime of the silence concerning priestly sex predators, Christianity is also responsible for many other wrong around the world.
The sex predators in the Church feel more protected since the Christian Churches have no policy to identify and restrict known sexual offenders among the clergy. The Churches in India have no policy or guidelines to identify priests having strong sexual propensities. There are several instances where Catholic Sunday school teachers, priests and school officials engaged in pedophile pattern of sexual misconduct in such an egregious nature that there is a substantial likelihood of serious physical or mental harm being inflicted on the victims. The Church holds that predatory sexual behavior does not constitute the kind of injury, pain, or other evil. The Church’s failure in addressing the sexual misconduct of the clergy amounts to ignoring substantial likelihood of serious physical or emotional harm to the victims. There are no mandatory reporting guidelines, sex abuse registration, community notification guidelines, uniform sex abuse reporting requirement, national incident-based reporting system, or any mechanism for national sex crime victimization survey in the Church in order to help Christian community feel safer. Given the criminal and public health significance of sex offenders among the Christian clergy, it is surprising how little has been done by the Church to acknowledge or to prevent such deviant acts. The powerful Churches have no means for measuring sex violence, assault, rape, attempted murder or murder by the clergy, as well as collecting data both prevalence rates (number of victims) or incidence rates (number of incidents). The government is under the political pressure from the Christian Churches and is unwilling to enact laws in an effort to restore a sense of safety and security to the community.
Recently, the Churches have joined together and have formed several “divine treatment” centers for indoctrinating and accusing the victims of sex abuse. The Potta Divine Center near Angamali and the mistreatment of sex abuse victims has sparked considerable debate among Psychiatrists, legal experts, human rights activists. Questions have been raised regarding the legality of such Christian institutions and illegal and unethical treatment of sex abuse victims by the predator priests. The Church has detained many nuns who have been sexually assaulted or raped and labeled them as mentally sick. The labeling process of the victims is used for intimidation, coercive treatment, false imprisonment and to silence the sex abuse victims. These illegal detention centers operated by the Churches have been used for keeping things quiet in an attempt to do ‘damage control’. Hundreds of inmates at these centers have died under mysterious circumstances. Bad publicity has dictated an atmosphere of hushed voices and outrage against those who dare to speak out against illegal detention, forced treatment and sudden death of sex abuse victims.
Law enforcement’s acknowledgement and response to clergy sex abuse has been slow in coming in Kerala. Even today, police officers would rather not get involved in crime, violence, sex abuse in the Church for fear of retaliation from the powerful Christian lobby.
The media, professionals and the society in Kerala must accept the fact that victims of clergy sex abuse and victims of sexual harassment especially nuns have rights and need. The government must enact legislation to ensure financial rewards for sex abuse victims and financial independence from the perpetuators. Freedom of the Church to run religious schools and illegal treatment centers without government regulations must be subject to scrutiny. The consequences of sex abuse by the priests are traumatic and the ramifications are serious. Although there is disagreement among the Church hierarchy, all agree that sex abuse by the clergy is a serious problem that must be handled by the police and the judiciary effectively. The media must expose and educate the public against clergy sex abuse and use of women as sexual trophies or playthings instead of equals by the Church. Only through ongoing awareness campaign against the special Church privileges, priestly sex deviance and exploitation of nuns and such heinous sex crimes can be put to an end.
Dr Babu Suseelan
During the past several years, the mass media in Kerala has been awash with reports of Catholic priestly pedophilia, sex abuse of nuns by the clergy, nun suicide, and Church cover-up. The politically powerful Christian Church has been reluctant to admit that sexual abuse by the clergy is a widespread occurrence. Repeated media stories report accounts of both long-term and situational incidents of nuns being sexually abused by the clergy, murder of nuns, physical abuse of children in Christian management schools, sexual abuse of children in Bible Schools, ragging in colleges and violence against nuns. The consequences of sexual abuse are traumatic and long lasting. What is hard to accept is why the Church refuses to accept sex abuse by the clergy. Sex abuse by the clergy is a harsh reality, and the Church must understand what it is, know the factors-both physical and behavioral-that may indicate its existence, and be familiar with repeated occurrence.
The general public is becoming more aware of the extent and nature of sex abuse by the priests. Nationally reported sensational trials of priestly sex abuse and murder have brought priestly deviance and Church cover-up into focused attention. The CBI investigation of the nun Abhaya murder trial, arrest of Catholic priests and supervisory nuns forced the public to confront sex abuse, murder, and the Church blame shift and cover-up. Nun Abhaya was murdered because she had witnessed priestly sex with her supervisory nuns and she spoke out against sex in the convent. Another nun Anupama had committed suicide allegedly unable to face sexual harassment by senior nuns. Another senior nun Jesme has written in detail in her autobiography about brutal, inhuman sex abuse by priests and nuns. She has reported experiences with sex abuse, attempted or actual rape, assault or violence. In spite of repeated cases of sex abuse, murder, suicide and assault, the Church has attempted “knee-jerk” reaction, cover-up or quick fixes for this emotionally charged serious problem. The Church with deep pockets and political muscle has been sabotaging high-profile cases. The widespread use of Church money and power has provided increased opportunities to provoke the impression of Christian prosecution. The political-money power of the Church prevents government from arresting, prosecuting and punishing dangerous Christian priests who are sex offenders. As a result, the police, the Judiciary and the government have been reluctant to investigate arrest or prosecute sex predators and deviant priests. The Churches are engaged in media manipulation, blame game and victim abuse. But the general public claim priestly sex abuse clearly exists and is more widespread than believed. Sex abuse by the Christian clergy creates anxiety and apprehension and present serious social problem. Several nuns have committed suicide and many others have become mentally sick.
Most disturbing were the obvious predatory offenders who would, in open defiance, refuse to admit their sex crimes have been transferred to Europe and America. Several Christian priests from Kerala were arrested in the US for lewd, lascivious, or indecent assault and are serving long-term prison sentences.
As a further influence towards sexual abuse in the Christian community, Biblical socio-cultural values that emphasize male dominance, interpersonal violence, negative values of women, and sexual exploitation of children influence sex abuse. Christian women have found that throughout the history of Christianity, the Bible has been used as a Christian scripture for sexual exploitation of women and children. The Christian scriptures contain story after story of violence against women (Genesis 34, 2 Samuel 13, Judges 19, and Daniel 13). Sexual discrimination against women is also derived from passages in the New Testament. “Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, not to usurp authority over the man but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in child bearing if they continue in faith with sobriety.” (Timothy 2:11-15). “Righteous man tells horny neighbors to rape his virgin daughters instead of taking liberties with his male guests.” (Genesis 19:1-18). “Though shall not suffer a witch to live.” (Exodus: 18-22).”God Okays captured maidens to be used as wives on a trial basis.” (Deuteronom 21-10-14). “I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the light of this sun.” (Bible God-2 Samuel 11-12). Thomas Paine in his “The Age of Reason” captures the essence of the Bible when he states; “whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries, the cruel and tortuous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more consistent that we called it the word of a demon, than the word of God. It is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind and for my part; I sincerely detest it, as I detest anything that is cruel.”
While the blame must be nightly placed on the individual priests who committed the heinous sexual acts, society must not forget that it is the Christian religion that is also generally responsible. Besides the biggest crime of the silence concerning priestly sex predators, Christianity is also responsible for many other wrong around the world.
The sex predators in the Church feel more protected since the Christian Churches have no policy to identify and restrict known sexual offenders among the clergy. The Churches in India have no policy or guidelines to identify priests having strong sexual propensities. There are several instances where Catholic Sunday school teachers, priests and school officials engaged in pedophile pattern of sexual misconduct in such an egregious nature that there is a substantial likelihood of serious physical or mental harm being inflicted on the victims. The Church holds that predatory sexual behavior does not constitute the kind of injury, pain, or other evil. The Church’s failure in addressing the sexual misconduct of the clergy amounts to ignoring substantial likelihood of serious physical or emotional harm to the victims. There are no mandatory reporting guidelines, sex abuse registration, community notification guidelines, uniform sex abuse reporting requirement, national incident-based reporting system, or any mechanism for national sex crime victimization survey in the Church in order to help Christian community feel safer. Given the criminal and public health significance of sex offenders among the Christian clergy, it is surprising how little has been done by the Church to acknowledge or to prevent such deviant acts. The powerful Churches have no means for measuring sex violence, assault, rape, attempted murder or murder by the clergy, as well as collecting data both prevalence rates (number of victims) or incidence rates (number of incidents). The government is under the political pressure from the Christian Churches and is unwilling to enact laws in an effort to restore a sense of safety and security to the community.
Recently, the Churches have joined together and have formed several “divine treatment” centers for indoctrinating and accusing the victims of sex abuse. The Potta Divine Center near Angamali and the mistreatment of sex abuse victims has sparked considerable debate among Psychiatrists, legal experts, human rights activists. Questions have been raised regarding the legality of such Christian institutions and illegal and unethical treatment of sex abuse victims by the predator priests. The Church has detained many nuns who have been sexually assaulted or raped and labeled them as mentally sick. The labeling process of the victims is used for intimidation, coercive treatment, false imprisonment and to silence the sex abuse victims. These illegal detention centers operated by the Churches have been used for keeping things quiet in an attempt to do ‘damage control’. Hundreds of inmates at these centers have died under mysterious circumstances. Bad publicity has dictated an atmosphere of hushed voices and outrage against those who dare to speak out against illegal detention, forced treatment and sudden death of sex abuse victims.
Law enforcement’s acknowledgement and response to clergy sex abuse has been slow in coming in Kerala. Even today, police officers would rather not get involved in crime, violence, sex abuse in the Church for fear of retaliation from the powerful Christian lobby.
The media, professionals and the society in Kerala must accept the fact that victims of clergy sex abuse and victims of sexual harassment especially nuns have rights and need. The government must enact legislation to ensure financial rewards for sex abuse victims and financial independence from the perpetuators. Freedom of the Church to run religious schools and illegal treatment centers without government regulations must be subject to scrutiny. The consequences of sex abuse by the priests are traumatic and the ramifications are serious. Although there is disagreement among the Church hierarchy, all agree that sex abuse by the clergy is a serious problem that must be handled by the police and the judiciary effectively. The media must expose and educate the public against clergy sex abuse and use of women as sexual trophies or playthings instead of equals by the Church. Only through ongoing awareness campaign against the special Church privileges, priestly sex deviance and exploitation of nuns and such heinous sex crimes can be put to an end.
Sex scandals rock Church
A gang of students belonging to the Student Federation of India attacked Father Geo Pulickal, principal of the Catholic-run Nirmalagiri College at Koothuparamba in north Kerala. SFI students allege that the principal is a sodomite and subjected a college student to sodomy and two priests were involved in a ragging case in the college hostel. Posters depicting the priests and nuns in bad light appeared on the college campus.
The tug of war between the SFI activists and the Catholic church over the attack on Father Pulickal reached a flashpoint when Nirmalagiri College was closed last month and later re-opened after mediations between the Church officials and the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist.
Is the vow of celibacy that priests and nuns adopt to serve the Catholic church in Kerala becoming suspect? Why are increasing numbers of sex scandals involving the clergy coming up in the state?
Church leaders, especially those belonging to the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala are upset as social groups are mounting protests for trying to protect priests like Father Karthikapally from the clutches of civil law.
But Catholic activists who have launched a movement against the church claim that cases of priests caught in sex crimes are increasing in the state. "It seems priests in Kerala are losing their faith and virginity. We know the names of many priests who deliberately fail to keep their sacred pledge of a celibate lifestyle," says Sebastian Vattamattam, secretary of Kottayam-based Vikas Institute that has raked up the sex scandal involving Father Cyriac Karthikapally.
"Priests are sinning against their church and the community. But their crimes have thrown up legal, ethical and moral issues for debate within the church and the catholic community," he said.
Vattamattom, a college professor in the Changanacherry archdiocese-run Saint Berchman's College, is one of the many active Catholics who have launched a movement against what they call "erring and immoral priests and nuns."
Critics like him cite many reasons why priests and nuns are stepping out of their pastoral and missionary duties to the forbidden paths. "All the modern priests are very educated and rich. They are exposed to the world and lured by the luxuries of the modern world. They are spiritually corrupt and indulge in all sorts of immoral activities," accuses Vattamattam.
Kurian Verghese, a Catholic activist in Kochi, who himself left priestly studies mid-way and became an engineer later, says the fault lies with the seminaries. "Seminaries where students are trained and moulded to become priests are old-fashioned. They are taught philosophy and theology of the old order without any freedom of thought or action," he points out.
"I left the seminary after five years because I felt suffocated. So I think once they are out of seminaries, the present generation of young priests are attracted by the outside world which they have never seen or experienced," Verghese says.
"I know many priests who drink and womanise regularly. But they still remain within the dioceses and pastoral ministry and serve the local people. Our social set-up is such that a priest giving up the cassock for marriage is a butt of ridicule," he said.
Therefore, he says, the best thing that the church should aim for is to encourage those "immoral priests" to get out of the church services and help them get married.
But Church officials point out that some of the sex scandals rocking the Catholic community in Kerala are "stray instances" and have been blown out of proportion by "some misguided catholic activists."
According to Bishop Thomas Chakiath of Ernakulam archdiocese, it is sad that "some vested interests have launched a smear campaign against the church basing their arguments on some stray incidents."
"Of course, there have been incidents in which priests were accused of disobeying the sacred order of celibacy. But it is improper to accuse that the church is plagued by sex scandals," he said.
Bishop Chakiath said often priests who indulge in immoral activities leave their pastoral job and embrace matrimony. "But these all are very rare instances and they do not mean that the church has lost its mission, unity and integrity," he asserted.
However, according to Professor M J George, a member of the action council that is now pursuing the Father Karthikapally case the gravest mistake within the church is that "it itself is the protector of criminal clergy."
George said when the Father Karthikapally sex scandal rocked the Changanacherry archdiocese, what the Archbishop did was to get him tried in the diocese's own tribunal, which "punished" him by removing him from the pastoral ministry and offering remuneration to the girl.
"The accused priest is still with the diocese. His residence is provided by the diocese and he is protected by the church while his daughter is growing up in an orphanage," George said.
Catholic activists claim in many dioceses across Kerala, many "clerical gangsters" have come up. "Our information is that Father Karthikapally used to take the minor girl to his priest friends in other parishes. They had actually formed a sex racket involving many girls," says Vattamattam.
But Changanacherry Archdiocese Chancellor Father Gregory Naduviledam refutes the charges levelled by the church pressure groups. "They are misguided activists who are acting with some vested interests against the church," he said.
As for Father Karthikapally sex case, he said, the diocesan tribunal decided to try the priest after the victim's parents approached Archbishop Joseph Powathil for a settlement on the case from the church side.
"In the tribunal the priest confessed to his crime. We found him guilty and punished him by relieving him of all pastoral duties. He is now living in a remote village without serving any parish or other diocesan institutes," Father Naduviledam said.
As to the accusation that the diocese did not take the case to the police, he said "it was not the duty of the church." "It was the duty of the offended party to approach the police. But the girl's parents instead wanted that the priest should be tried by the church tribunal only," Father Naduviledam added.
According to Father Paul Thelakkat, editor of Sathyadeepam, a popular Catholic weekly, "It is an unfair argument that the church has lost its image because one among thousands of its priests is involved in a sex scandal."
"In every religious society and community in the world, there are erring members. The Catholic church considers the rare instances of sex scandals in Kerala as insignificant," he asserted.
One of the first sex scandals that rocked the Kerala church was in the 1970s, that too in the Changanacherry diocese. A diocesan priest, Father Benedict entered into a sexual relationship with Mariakutty, a regular church-goer. But when their relationship began doing the rounds, Father Benedict allegedly killed Mariakutty.
Father Benedict was arrested and fought the case in many courts for years, but was later set free for want of sufficient evidence of murder.
Old timers recall when Father Benedict was acquitted and released, he was given a warm reception by the Changanacherry archdiocese.
"I think this is the fault with the church. It does not punish those priests who break their celibacy and seek immoral means of life. But the church is always eager to protect the clergy who are found guilty," says Joseph Punnen, a devout catholic who had launched a movement against Father Benedict in 1970s.
The tug of war between the SFI activists and the Catholic church over the attack on Father Pulickal reached a flashpoint when Nirmalagiri College was closed last month and later re-opened after mediations between the Church officials and the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist.
Is the vow of celibacy that priests and nuns adopt to serve the Catholic church in Kerala becoming suspect? Why are increasing numbers of sex scandals involving the clergy coming up in the state?
Church leaders, especially those belonging to the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala are upset as social groups are mounting protests for trying to protect priests like Father Karthikapally from the clutches of civil law.
But Catholic activists who have launched a movement against the church claim that cases of priests caught in sex crimes are increasing in the state. "It seems priests in Kerala are losing their faith and virginity. We know the names of many priests who deliberately fail to keep their sacred pledge of a celibate lifestyle," says Sebastian Vattamattam, secretary of Kottayam-based Vikas Institute that has raked up the sex scandal involving Father Cyriac Karthikapally.
"Priests are sinning against their church and the community. But their crimes have thrown up legal, ethical and moral issues for debate within the church and the catholic community," he said.
Vattamattom, a college professor in the Changanacherry archdiocese-run Saint Berchman's College, is one of the many active Catholics who have launched a movement against what they call "erring and immoral priests and nuns."
Critics like him cite many reasons why priests and nuns are stepping out of their pastoral and missionary duties to the forbidden paths. "All the modern priests are very educated and rich. They are exposed to the world and lured by the luxuries of the modern world. They are spiritually corrupt and indulge in all sorts of immoral activities," accuses Vattamattam.
Kurian Verghese, a Catholic activist in Kochi, who himself left priestly studies mid-way and became an engineer later, says the fault lies with the seminaries. "Seminaries where students are trained and moulded to become priests are old-fashioned. They are taught philosophy and theology of the old order without any freedom of thought or action," he points out.
"I left the seminary after five years because I felt suffocated. So I think once they are out of seminaries, the present generation of young priests are attracted by the outside world which they have never seen or experienced," Verghese says.
"I know many priests who drink and womanise regularly. But they still remain within the dioceses and pastoral ministry and serve the local people. Our social set-up is such that a priest giving up the cassock for marriage is a butt of ridicule," he said.
Therefore, he says, the best thing that the church should aim for is to encourage those "immoral priests" to get out of the church services and help them get married.
But Church officials point out that some of the sex scandals rocking the Catholic community in Kerala are "stray instances" and have been blown out of proportion by "some misguided catholic activists."
According to Bishop Thomas Chakiath of Ernakulam archdiocese, it is sad that "some vested interests have launched a smear campaign against the church basing their arguments on some stray incidents."
"Of course, there have been incidents in which priests were accused of disobeying the sacred order of celibacy. But it is improper to accuse that the church is plagued by sex scandals," he said.
Bishop Chakiath said often priests who indulge in immoral activities leave their pastoral job and embrace matrimony. "But these all are very rare instances and they do not mean that the church has lost its mission, unity and integrity," he asserted.
However, according to Professor M J George, a member of the action council that is now pursuing the Father Karthikapally case the gravest mistake within the church is that "it itself is the protector of criminal clergy."
George said when the Father Karthikapally sex scandal rocked the Changanacherry archdiocese, what the Archbishop did was to get him tried in the diocese's own tribunal, which "punished" him by removing him from the pastoral ministry and offering remuneration to the girl.
"The accused priest is still with the diocese. His residence is provided by the diocese and he is protected by the church while his daughter is growing up in an orphanage," George said.
Catholic activists claim in many dioceses across Kerala, many "clerical gangsters" have come up. "Our information is that Father Karthikapally used to take the minor girl to his priest friends in other parishes. They had actually formed a sex racket involving many girls," says Vattamattam.
But Changanacherry Archdiocese Chancellor Father Gregory Naduviledam refutes the charges levelled by the church pressure groups. "They are misguided activists who are acting with some vested interests against the church," he said.
As for Father Karthikapally sex case, he said, the diocesan tribunal decided to try the priest after the victim's parents approached Archbishop Joseph Powathil for a settlement on the case from the church side.
"In the tribunal the priest confessed to his crime. We found him guilty and punished him by relieving him of all pastoral duties. He is now living in a remote village without serving any parish or other diocesan institutes," Father Naduviledam said.
As to the accusation that the diocese did not take the case to the police, he said "it was not the duty of the church." "It was the duty of the offended party to approach the police. But the girl's parents instead wanted that the priest should be tried by the church tribunal only," Father Naduviledam added.
According to Father Paul Thelakkat, editor of Sathyadeepam, a popular Catholic weekly, "It is an unfair argument that the church has lost its image because one among thousands of its priests is involved in a sex scandal."
"In every religious society and community in the world, there are erring members. The Catholic church considers the rare instances of sex scandals in Kerala as insignificant," he asserted.
One of the first sex scandals that rocked the Kerala church was in the 1970s, that too in the Changanacherry diocese. A diocesan priest, Father Benedict entered into a sexual relationship with Mariakutty, a regular church-goer. But when their relationship began doing the rounds, Father Benedict allegedly killed Mariakutty.
Father Benedict was arrested and fought the case in many courts for years, but was later set free for want of sufficient evidence of murder.
Old timers recall when Father Benedict was acquitted and released, he was given a warm reception by the Changanacherry archdiocese.
"I think this is the fault with the church. It does not punish those priests who break their celibacy and seek immoral means of life. But the church is always eager to protect the clergy who are found guilty," says Joseph Punnen, a devout catholic who had launched a movement against Father Benedict in 1970s.
Sister Jyothis murdered
In 1998, Sr Jyothis of Sacred Heart Convent at Mukkom in Kozhikode district was found murdered in the convent's well. Investigations so far have made no headway, but the police suspect that sexual motive could have been the cause behind the murder.
Recently, Sister Jyothis's father, K M Jose filed a case in the Kerala high court pleading for a CBI investigation into his daughter's murder in the convent.
Recently, Sister Jyothis's father, K M Jose filed a case in the Kerala high court pleading for a CBI investigation into his daughter's murder in the convent.
Father Cyriac Karthikapally arrested
In 1995, Father Cyriac Karthikapally, a parish priest of Kurumbanadam church in the Changanacherry archdiocese, lured a 15-year old school-going girl to his bedroom. For the next two years, the priest entered into a sexual relationship with the minor girl that she gave birth to a female child on September 15, 1998.
The Changacherry police on Tuesday registered a case against Father Karthikapally for raping, abducting and compelling the victim for abortion. The police has submitted before the local judicial court a first information report against the priest under sections 315, 316 and 336 of the Indian Penal Code that deal with provisions on rape and abduction.
The Changacherry police on Tuesday registered a case against Father Karthikapally for raping, abducting and compelling the victim for abortion. The police has submitted before the local judicial court a first information report against the priest under sections 315, 316 and 336 of the Indian Penal Code that deal with provisions on rape and abduction.
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