Thannipuzha: An advocacy group for the Catholic religion in India on Monday lambasted the recent statement made by the Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry in Kerala assuring support to the BJP if the prices of rubber were raised.
“The executive Committee members of the Forum of Religious for Justice and Peace met from March 23-25 at the Divya Karunya Ashramam in Thannipuzha near Kalady, Kerala, and deliberated and discerned on several critical issues which currently affect the Country and the Church! We are shocked by the recent statement made by Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry, which were given wide coverage by all sections of the media,” said Father Cedric Prakash, who heads the forum’s media cell.
According to media reports, “Archbishop Pamplany assured to extend support to BJP if the union government raises the price of rubber to Rs 300. Addressing the protest rally of the Catholic Congress at Alakode in Kannur, the bishop said that the archdiocese would help the BJP in Kerala and will overcome the situation of the BJP not having an MP from the state.”
The forum’s statement further said, “Coming from a member of the hierarchy, such ‘assurances’ are unacceptable, deeply regrettable and bound to have serious long-term repercussions. Fascist, fundamentalist and fanatic forces are inimical to the Constitution of India, to the intrinsic values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, to its democratic ethos and to the secular fabric of the country. Through its insidious divide-and-rule strategies, BJP makes inroads into all sections of society, including among Christians. This was experienced recently in the elections held in three North Eastern States and earlier, in Goa. Its blatant posturing and preparations for forthcoming elections in Karnataka and other states and the National elections of 2024, are indicative of its goal: the establishment of a state based on the ‘Hindutva’ ideology.”
“The reality is grim! For those espoused to the Hindutva ideology, any citizen who stands up for truth and justice, including human rights defenders and media personnel are, regarded as ‘anti- national’, hounded and harassed, incarcerated and killed; minorities (particularly the Muslims and Christians) are demonized and denigrated, attacked and jailed. This has been the cruel experience every Sunday for the evangelists and followers of evangelist Christian communities in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka etc.; at the receiving end of a brutal and unjust system are the Adivasis and Dalits, fisher-folk, small farmers, migrant workers and the unemployed, the poor and other vulnerable sections of society,” the forum stated.
The forum felts that during these troubled times the Church in India does not play the prophetic role which is expected from her on behalf of the suffering in the country; a large section of the hierarchy, clergy and religious are frightened to take a stand for truth and justice, it felt.
“During the course of a highly participative meeting, we took stock of the many different involvements and other interventions of the FORUM – nationally and regionally – since the last Exco meeting which held at Hyderabad in September 2022,” it added.
The main job of an Advocacy Group is to recommend certain changes in government, public policy, society, and/or law. An advocacy group comes together around a common issue, like spreading awareness about child rights in vulnerable societies, health care e.g. creating awareness about HIV in slum areas, rights for immigrants and refugees, education e.g. Right to Education (RTE), or women’s rights. Advocacy groups help members of a certain section of society to explore their options and rights (without pressuring them), provide information to facilitate making informed decisions and to contact relevant people; and also support them in taking things forward.
In light of the above, the advocacy group named the Forum of Religious Justice and Peace have overstepped its brief and worked more as a Pressure Group to impose its opinion on Catholics of Kerala.
Tellicherry’s Archbishop Pamplany’s overtures to BJP is not his personal initiative. He must have acted under instructions from the cardinal and bishops of Kerala who are facing several high-profile criminal and civil suits in various courts of India including the Supreme Court of India. Their hope and wish is to get immunity or exoneration from this court cases through the central government in exchange of garnering votes for BJP. In this respect Archbishop Pamplany’s move was a desperate one and a concerted effort of behalf of the tainted bishops and the cardinal known for his several scams. BJP is just waiting in the wings and if the church does not comply, whether under Tellicherry’s Archbishop Pamplany, as the front, then it will soon let loose all the Enforcement Authorities on the lines of the TMC government in Bengal and AAP government in New Delhi. The message is clear.
Fr Cedric called BJP “Fascist, Fundamentalist and Fanatic” and has advised Christians to be wary of the evil designs of the party. But the fact is Christians both in Goa and Nagaland were bought over by BJP. In fact, on 29th March after declaration of the election in Karnataka (on 10 May 2023), India Today channel showed some interesting statistics. In 2018 Karnataka Assembly election, 40% of Christians voted for the BJP and 65% Muslims voted for the Congress. Christians constitute 3% of Karnataka voters. The sad reality is BJP has succeeded in making inroads in the Christian bastions in Goa and Nagaland. Now by indirectly holding some bishops to hostage, it is trying to break into the Christian voters of Kerala. The Kerala Bishops are keener to save their skins and booty first (by aligning with BJP) than their interest in the welfare of Kerala Laity.
BJP is fascist says your article.I was, on the other hand, sent out from the diocese of Miao by BishopP.K.George SDB when I was in first year of Theology in2009 just because I was converted Christian from a strong Hindu family and my family tried to take me out from the Oriens Theological seminary Shillong.The Bishop and his consultors felt threatened.My life and dream to be a priest was finished forever.
No other Bishops I went to join their diocese were positive to take me in.What wrong had I done? The church leaders too are fascist who never stand by their own people.They can only preach about the Cross a disciple of Christ has to take but never take an ounce of load upon themselves!!!None of my family member ever harmed them.
The Jesuit priest Fr.A.T.Thomas of Harazaribag Province had baptised me and when he was killed,there was no spokesperson to speak to the reporters when they came to Bishop’s House!!! Today we have speaker Priests most of them.Hardly we find a priest with a soul.I am sorry to judge but ask any faithful in the congregation and they will testify.