chhotebhai –
One wears a vacant look when lost, in love, or both! A vacant glassy look is also associated with death. Who has this vacant look – the Catholic Church in India? Why? Because 21 of 174 (one in eight) dioceses in the country have no bishops – the Sees are vacant.
The question therefore arises – is the Church in love (if so, with what), plain lost or lifeless? Let us delve deeper to find the answers.
I belong to Allahabad Diocese, one of the oldest in north India. It has, in turn, given birth to several other dioceses. My parish in Kanpur is again one of the oldest dating back to 1825. Yet this prestigious mother diocese has been without a bishop since 12th November 2020, 2½ years.
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned this to my parish priest. He told me that 21 dioceses in the country were without a bishop, and sent me the list. It is worth examining.
Of the 21 dioceses, 20 are Latin Rite, coming directly under the Papal Nuncio, and just one, Khadki in Pune, is a Syro-Malankara eparchy. How did these vacancies arise? 4 were caused by the death of the incumbents, 6 others retired on attaining the stipulated age of 75, 2 were transferred, 6 were elevated as archbishops and 3 resigned. The reasons for the last category are not fully known; though among them is Gallela Prasad of Cuddappah (Andhra) who had to resign because of his scandalous life (having a mistress, child, transferring property in their names etc). This writer was among those who had demanded his sacking. He should be defrocked. Of the other two that resigned one was a Jesuit and the other a Salesian. There is no more information in the public domain.
The See that has been vacant for the longest period, almost 7 years, is Daltonganj in Jharkhand. Among its earlier prelates was the redoubtable George Saupin SJ. Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi hated his guts because of his support for the tribals during the Emergency.
Saupin always wore a simple kurta pyjama with a head cloth (angochha), sat on his haunches and even smoked a bidi with the poor tribals. I first met him when he visited our Jyotiniketan Ashram in 1976. He joined me in roasting chappatis on the wood fire and threshing corn. A far cry from the “Eminences, Graces and Lordships” of today. Incidentally, while Pope Francis travels in a small Fiat 500 sitting alongside the driver, his Nuncio sits on the rear seat of his black BMW luxury sedan!
Besides Daltonganj, 2 dioceses are vacant since 2018, 2 more from 2019, 7 from 2020, 5 from 2021, 3 from 2022 and just 1 from the current year. We also have Apostolic Administrators (a non-canonical appointment) in Jalandhar and Mysore as those bishops are under suspension; one for a pending rape case, and the other for alleged murder, kidnapping, sexual molestation, concubinage, financial misappropriation etc.
As per Canon Law (Can 377:30) a diocesan bishop is to submit a triennial ternus (list of episcopal probables) to the Nuncio for consideration. This would result in a long list for the Nuncio to choose from and recommend to the Vatican.
Assuming that the Oriental Rites choose their own eparchs, it still leaves the Nuncio sitting on 20 files for episcopal appointments. Is our dear Nuncio so busy cutting ribbons, attending jubilees or sending “Messages” for the same that he has no time for his primary task of appointing bishops?
When Jesus had to choose his twelve disciples, despite their shortcomings, he spent the whole night in prayer (cf Lk 6:12). Does our Nuncio not have enough time to pray and then choose?
I recall an incident in 1990 shortly after I had been elected the National President of the All India Catholic Union. Two nuns had been raped in Gajraula, a couple of hours away from Delhi. I had taken my team to investigate. Late night I returned dusty and sweaty to the CBCI Centre where a priest friend had arranged a room for me. I got back to find the Centre locked. Everyone had gone to the Ashoka Hotel for the farewell cocktail party of Abp (later Cardinal) Agostinho Cacciavillan, the outgoing Nuncio.
He liked me and had invited me too, but I had no intention of going to a 5-star cocktail party in my shabby clothes. Now I had no choice but to attend. Since the Nuncio was then the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps by virtue of being the senior most Ambassador, diplomats were in full strength, mingling with the wining and dining priests and nuns. Some did ask me about Gajraula.
So I wonder, still I wonder (not who stopped the rain) but who is holding back the reins for the appointment of bishops? I doubt if the vacant look is because of love for Jesus and his Church. More likely the vacancies are because of being lost (directionless) or lifeless. It saddens me.
Now let us draw some parallels from contemporary society. India is considered the largest democracy. Despite its many shortcomings we have an Election Commission and an electoral process with a smooth transition of power. Presidents, Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, all come and go. The caravan moves on.
So too with appointments to constitutional or critical posts like Defence Chiefs, Judges, heads of the CBI, CVC, CAG, ED etc. A due process is followed and appointments made. Imagine the chaos if such posts remained inordinately vacant. When there was a lengthy delay in the appointment of the Chief of Defence Services it raised both questions and eyebrows. One could argue though that an air crash was an unforeseen situation.
What of north and south America? There was a gap of about two months between Joe Biden’s election as the President of the USA and his assuming office. It was enough time for Donald Trump, the loser, to orchestrate an assault on Capitol Hill. It was déjà vu in Brazil with a similar gap between the election of President Luiz da Silva and his assuming office. Here too Jair Bolsonaro, his defeated predecessor, attempted a coup. Interestingly, our former Nuncio, Giam Battista di Quatro, had cozied up to the right wing Bolsonaro on his abrupt transfer from India to Brazil.
Having compared our three democracies let us also look at some comparative data on the Catholic Church in these countries, as per the Table below. Remember that Christianity came to India 1500 years before it touched American shores.
| Country | Catholic Population | Percentage of Population | No of bishops/ dioceses | People to Bishops Ratio |
| India | 20,000,000 | 1.55 | 174 | 1:114,943 |
| USA | 70,412,201 | 23.00 | 198 | 1:355,617 |
| Brazil | 123,000,000 | 65.00 | 400 | 1:307,500 |
It is apparent that in India the bishops to people ratio is three times what it is in the other two countries. I have often said before that the church in India suffers from the problem of plenty – too many bishops, clergy, religious, institutions, foreign money etc. Ignatian spirituality teaches us that our strengths can turn into our weaknesses. Could this be a reason for the Nuncio sitting on 20 episcopal appointments?
Nevertheless, gaps in the hedge or long periods of vacant Sees are a cause of concern. I humbly request our Nuncio to swiftly fill up the vacancies in India. The vacant look is not conducive to the life of the church in India that is currently under siege from fundamentalist and communal forces. Credible and decisive leadership is the need of the hour.
The writer is the Convenor of the Indian Catholic Forum. Also refer his previous articles “Do We Need Bishops” and “Choosing our Bishops”.
The Diocese of Asansol too does not have a Bishop. It is now being looked after by Bishop Julius Marandi, Apostolic Administrator, after Bishop Cyprian Monis retired on 04th May 2020. Covid has come and gone, still no bishop (son-of-the-soil) has been found fit (?) to take over as Shepherd of the Diocese. Talking of Cardinals, they too do not have a clean slate. On 17th March the Supreme Court of India dismissed an appeal by Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the Syro-Malabar Church, to quash seven criminal cases against him in connection with a controversial land deal in his archdiocese. Considering the media attention Bishops Franco Mulakkal and K.A. William have drawn, all for the wrong reasons, the Papal Nuncio cannot be possibly held responsible for sitting on the appointment of bishops in the 21 vacant Sees! He fears the protectors may turn predators in their shining armour!!
Somewhat similar is the case of Catholic Association of Bengal, arguably the oldest lay organisation founded on 12 November 1911 by Rev. Brice Meuleman, S.J. Archbishop of Calcutta. The current office bearers are clinging to office even though their three-year term of office was over on 1st September 2021. They were elected to office on 2nd September 2018. Elections of new office bearers have been indefinitely put on hold under the excuse of Covid, which has come and gone, with the wind! An EGM was called on 26th February (much after the term of current office bearers was over on 01 September 2021). Many Life Members (950+) did not receive (not notified) the notification letter of the EGM! It appears, both our Church Hierarchy and most lay associations are increasingly suffering from insatiable Crave for Power! Though they invoke, every now and then, Christ and St Teresa of Calcutta Mother, in reality they are no more the keepers of trust. The Laity must be awake to the adage “Absolute Power leads to Absolute Corruption.”
The Diocese of Asansol (West Bengal) too does not have a Bishop. It is now being looked after by Bishop Julius Marandi, Apostolic Administrator, after Bishop Cyprian Monis retired on 04th May 2020. Covid has come and gone, still no bishop (son-of-the-soil) has been found fit (?) to take over as Shepherd of the Diocese. Talking of Cardinals, they too do not have a clean slate. On 17th March the Supreme Court of India dismissed an appeal by Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the Syro-Malabar Church, to quash seven criminal cases against him in connection with a controversial land deal in his archdiocese. Considering the media attention Bishops Franco Mulakkal and K.A. William have drawn, all for the wrong reasons, the Papal Nuncio cannot be possibly held responsible for sitting on the appointment of bishops in the 21 vacant Sees! He fears the protectors may turn predators in their shining armour!!
Somewhat similar is the case of Catholic Association of Bengal, arguably the oldest lay organisation founded on 12 November 1911 by Rev. Brice Meuleman, S.J. Archbishop of Calcutta. The current office bearers are clinging to office even though their three-year term of office was over on 1st September 2021. They were elected to office on 2nd September 2018. Elections of new office bearers have been indefinitely put on hold under the excuse of Covid, which has come and gone, with the wind! An EGM was called on 26th February (much after the term of current office bearers was over on 01 September 2021). Many Life Members (950+) did not receive (not notified) the notification letter of the EGM! There is also a concerted attempt to modify the term of office from three years to five years. The Laity must wake up to the adage “Absolute Power leads to Absolute Corruption.” It appears, both our Church Hierarchy and most lay associations are increasingly suffering from insatiable Crave for Power! Though every now and then they invoke Christ and St Teresa of Calcutta, they are no more the votaries of trust and transparency.
In response to Pope Francis’ call for Synod 2023 (now shifted to 2024), Indian Catholic Forum (ICF) prepared a Questionnaire (English) to conduct an online survey of the faithful using Google Forms. The survey was designed by ICF Convenor Chhotebhai (Kanpur) and Nelvin Johnny (Baroda).
Responses to the Questionnaire were automatically collated thereby maintaining total confidentiality. The questions were answered on a scale of 0-5. Each question had the option “unable to answer”. The Questionnaire was divided into two parts: I & 2. Part I (A) comprised Respondent’s Profile (Gender, Age, Education, Family’s Monthly Income, whether married/unmarried/divorced/separated/clergy/Religious and Rite. Part I (B) Belief System comprised Frequency of Sunday Mass Attendance, Participation in Confession and receiving of Holy Communion, frequency of one’s prayer life, belief in the sacrament of Matrimony, Bible reading, exercise of voting rights and social work during Covid times. One interesting question was whether the non-baptised will go to hell. 72% answered No.
In the online survey, a bishop was perceived as a ceremonial head, not a pastor who took care of his flock. It was also opined that parishioners should be involved in the selection/ election of bishops and that bishops should be transferable every ten years. This transfer is a MUST for both the physical and mental well-being/uplift of bishops. Otherwise Bp Gallela Prasad, K.A. William-like syndrome might see many repeats!
Shri Isaac Gomes has made some very interesting and pointed observations. Increasingly Catholic institutions and lay associations are becoming autocratic. In most cases, the same persons (pets of parish priests and bishops) wear different hats on different church committees. There is hardly any representation of lay persons on Diocesan Finance Committees (DFCs). Also many parishes still do not have Parish Finance Committees (PFCs). However, Baruipur Diocese of West Bengal (South 24 Parganas) has lay (who know finance) representation on its DFC.
Regarding bishops I support the IFC survey that laity should have a say in the selection of bishops and certainly not the outgoing bishop/archbishop and his handpicked lackeys. Also bishops should be transferred every five-six years. If this is done, the nexus between the hierarchy, vendors and some lay members can be effectively avoided. Also all intending vendors should be empanelled and displayed on the archdiocesan/ diocesan website. Contracts should be awarded through transparent Technical and Commercial Bids. Blindly giving tenders on the basis of the Lowest Tender at the cost of Technical Expertise should be done away with. The whole bidding process and award should be conducted by a Tender Committee which should have both technical and commercial knowledge.
Also archbishops/bishops should not head all Committees & Commissions. This is standard operating procedure (SOP) in most dioceses.