In a sudden turn of events, the editor of Indian Currents, Capuchin Father Suresh Mathew, has been transferred to Amritsar in Punjab as a school manager. Run by Capuchin Province of Krist Jyoti, Indian Currents is a leading voice of the Catholic church.
According to a new list of appointments and transfers issued on November 5 from Father Raphie Paliakara, the new leader of the Capuchin’s Krist Jyoti province, Father Mathew will take charge as the guardian and manager of St Joseph’s School in Bhrariwal near Amritsar on November 30.
Father Suresh Mathew, 50, took over as the Indian Currents editor nine and a half years ago. Father Gaurav Joseph, a 33-year-old Capuchin priest and a native of Delhi, succeeds him.
Fr Suresh Mathew came across as a rare priest who did not hesitate to speak against the church leadership and at the same time was a voice for the Catholic church. Be it countering the right-wing narrative against the church and its institutions, or the rubber issue in Kerala, or attacks on Christians across the country, or against anti-conversion laws, etc.
Reacting to the development, veteran journalist John Dayal said, “Very sudden. Didn’t have an inkling. You’ve achieved great heights as a professional editor. Surely, will miss your unique touch and guts at IC and in catholic journalism. God bless you.”
Ignatius Gonsalves, president of the Indian Catholic Press Association, said, “I am shocked, though I expected something of this sort and even asked Fr. Suresh himself recently. He continues as our Secretary, he will continue as a much valued productive and prophetic member of our organization – that is my solace.”
“Deepest gratitude to you dear Fr Suresh for adhering faithfully to convey the truth all through….May you continue to be the ‘voice of the voiceless’ wherever you may be…,” said journalist Sr. Sujata Jena from Bubaneshwar.
Journalist Sr. Gana Rawat, said, “Thank you so much dear Fr. Suresh for your prophetic role in the Church especially through your writings- Indian Currents. I am sure you will continue wherever you are placed. Wishing you God’s Blessing.”
Father Irudhaya Jothi, a columnist of Indian Currents, applauded Father Mathew “for being a leading and fearless voice of the Church and against the powers. I wish you all the very best for the new mission.”
Father Jothi, a Calcutta Jesuit, expressed the hope that the new editor will uphold the standards of Indian Currents.
Wonder if this was occasioned by government pressure? Also we ridicule the choked Godi media. The clergy controlled Catholic media is no different. Our hopes now rest entirely on the independent lay Catholic editors who run their journals/ portals at great personal sacrifice and no revenue whatsoever. Hats off to them
With the load of Editor being taken off his shoulders, Fr Suresh Mathew can breathe free and can contribute more fearlessly as a Prophetic journalist than he did as editor of Indian Currents. As Editor, most of the time he had to do a balancing act. His sudden transfer (clipping wings) to a school reminds me of what Chhotebhai remarked on his transfer: “Several years ago, two courageous editors of The Herald Calcutta, Horace Rozario SJ and C. M. Paul SDB were removed by the “owner” Abp Henry D’Souza, because he wanted only “Good News” (retreats, ribbon cutting ceremonies, etc) to be printed.” The current editor of the mouthpiece of the Archdiocese of Calcutta is also compromised (in favour some lay members who flaunt political connections) and is far from being Prophetic.
To make the Church more synodal and prophetic (listening to all especially the people at the grassroots and walking with them), you don’t have to be a prophet or a priest. You just need to be inspired by God and go out of your comfort zone and reach out to people – the marginalized. We also come across Christians who resemble the Dead Sea. They just swallow the Word of God, get bloated with ego and achievement but they never help others. They become so salty that nobody can survive around them. They have nothing to give. My dear brothers and sisters, be the Sea of Galilee. The more you give, the more you will get, including knowledge and wisdom. But when you just want to take and take for your selfish goals, you become useless to the Body of Christ. Be a sharer. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (ACT 20:35)