Holy Men in Unholy Acts: Cardinal Sin
Holy Men in Unholy Acts: Cardinal Sin
Holy Men in Unholy Acts: Cardinal Sin
CARDINAL SIN
Moral Integrity Questioned,
Laity Alienated
T
he Kerala Syro-Malabar Church faces its canon laws, involvement of land mafia, lack
worst crisis in recent history over a land of transparency, alienation of properties, and
row in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam- severe monetary loss in the recent series of land
Angamaly. Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, the sale.
Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church, and The Archdiocese landed in trouble by its
his two officers – Finance Officer and Director attempt to start a medical college much against
of Institutions are in the eye of a storm sending the collective opinion of the Presbyterium
shockwaves to its faithful and supporters alike. and the purchase of 23 acres of land towards
The priests and faithful of the Archdiocese allege this project at Mattoor, near Angamaly with a
that there were serious violations of civil and term loan of Rs 58 crores. The Medical College
The official bodies of the Archdiocese such as Finance Council, Presbyteral Council and
Presbyterium discussed the issues at length. The fiasco was unearthed by the priests in the
diocese and they went to great lengths to unearth valid documents via RTI. As the report of
the enquiry commission comes out, they plan to appeal to Rome for further action against
individuals involved in the scam if actions are not initiated. The Major Archbishop admitted
that technical and procedural errors have occurred in the whole deal and caution was thrown to
the wind. Cardinal Alencherry himself has signed in all the 36 land sale documents.
The Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese, Mar Sebastian Adayanthrath, issued a circular
upon the request of the Presbyterium, admitting that the land deal resulted in a huge financial
burden to the Archdiocese. The circular observed that the overarching crisis was not the financial
meltdown, rather the question of credibility and morality. Lack of transparency and ignorance or
misinterpretations of Canon law, reckless circumvention of structures and policies raise serious
moral concerns. Though the Archdiocese can recover from the financial crisis to a great extent, issues
W
ith its notorious land deal, the pastors of the Ernakulam-
Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church
in Kerala served a sourly feast for its faithful during
the bygone Christmas season. Providing convincing explanations
to the faithful may be relatively less challenging than handling
its subversive pastors who clamour for nothing less than the
resignation of the Major Archbishop Mar George Alencherry. As
the subject under the lens of scrutiny is the topmost authority of
the church itself, introspecting on church’s call and mission as well
as the ways of its being and becoming after the ideals of Jesus is
nonetheless not an unproductive exercise.
This article does not intend to delve into the details of the land
BY Jose Vallikatt
deal, whose lies and liabilities would be exposed sooner rather
than later by the six-member commission appointed by the Major
Archbishop, the supreme juridical body of the church. However,
it investigates the ways a spiritual organisation skidded from the
popular aspirations, for which I would resort to some comments
that appeared in various social media sites.
Losing credibility
While on earth the most challenging question Jesus faced was
about his credibility as the son of God. The Johannine account
way of salvation and continued to cater to the people’s quest for excusing human frailty. It
meaning and space in a cultural and political milieu which often would be most irreligious
excluded them. if we do not desire for and
The novelty of Christianity remains in offering an altogether make an effort to amend
different narrative to the ways people celebrated their life and our transgressions. The very
destiny. Although the indomitable desire for such a narrative is starting point and foundation
still prevalent among faithful today, the pastoral leadership of of the Christian narrative is
the predominantly institutional church pitiably fails to satiate the call to conversion, which
this popular yearning, enraptured by their invincible hunger for is not an instantaneous
power, promiscuity and profligacy. The present issue though has dramatic event, but an
confused many young people with questions of ethics and faith, ongoing process of continued
with increasing number of faithful demanding for transparency renewal happening in a
and inclusion of laypeople in temporal affairs of the church. genuine spiritual journey. The
authorities are to wake up to
While many faithful opt to distance themselves from church
the awareness that religious
disenchanted by the debauched priests, others find their own ways
leadership is not about
to enliven the Christian narrative in manifold ways of responding
multiplying structures and
to the poor, working for social justice and doing other spiritual
assets, but is about building
practices. The various questions and suggestions made in the social
and caring for a community
media by the laypeople call for an unprecedented cleansing of the
that journeys to land of honey
conscious from the part of the church. The church would have to
and milk.
pay a big price if it still ignores its loyalists who, thanks to science
and technology, have gained significant socio-cultural capital Top officials and
even to challenge its misconduct in public. Faithful expect that the Presbyterium are equally
pastors of a church that makes and venerates saints shall be free of culpable for dragging the issue
blemishes. The mainstream church should not only run faster but that could have been settled
should have the willingness to change the course if it has to chase within the legitimate forums
the dream of Jesus and his ordinary flock. of the church to the public
But ‘conversion’ and ‘change’ are ideas that were vehemently sphere. Their inability to settle
challenged in the church domain. Pastors and faithful make lame the issue in most ethical ways
arguments for resisting conversion. A very practicing Catholic proves them to be spiritually
layperson said to me that “conversion [of priests] is not possible.” impoverished. The church
Shockingly, many others, including priests, were persuading in Kerala requires to come
me about the human frailty of following an ideal. In effect, they back to Jesus for a radical
encourage others to comply with the errors. conversion experience. The
row over the land deal offers
There is no dangerous idea than perpetuating evil and corruption
the most opportune time for
spiritual and moral repentance
and reparations. Reluctance
to repair would endanger
the missionary, pastoral
enthusiasm of thousands of
genuine priests, religious and
laypeople. If the church misses
this chance for amendments,
it not only would be alienated
from the authentic Christian
narrative, but also would
pauperize itself having no
credible witness to offer the
millions that aspire for Christ.