View the Pastoral Scenario in the Whole of the Church in India

Date: 5th July 2020

00120 Vatican City.

AN OPEN LETTER

Dear Pope Francis, Greetings from Mumbai, India. Almost daily the faithful in India are subjected to shame and disappointment at the recent and ongoing happenings which are flashed daily in the print and online versions of main and regional newspapers and television channels. The contents are gut wrenching, mind boggling and a blot on the Catholic Church. Slowly but surely the series of unfortunate and avoidable episodes are eroding the credibility of the Catholic Church and standing, not only among the faithful but in the national space as well. Many a faithful are leaving the Catholic Church and that’s painful. To add salt to the injury, the inaction from the Apostolic Nuncio to India, and the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) is causing deep anguish. The anger has reached alarming levels, many times bringing the faithful on the streets. The inaction and delay are being interpreted as existence of a wide chasm between the laity and the clergy (hierarchy), as well as being insensitive and not interested in carrying out duties. Below we list a few of the ongoing issues: 1. Bishop William of Mysore Diocese whose shenanigans are utterly shameful and chilling, having been accused of brutal killings of two priests (Rev. Rafael Colaco & William Albuquerque, having mistresses and siring children, sexual molestation and kidnapping of Ms. Sahana, a newly baptized married with a child, misappropriation of public funds, harassment and intimidating witnesses and priests… A major difference here is that more than 30 priests have openly revolted against him and have no qualms of highlighting his misdeeds in public. There is a massive show of support by the faithful who have numerous times come on the streets. The intervention of police has halted the protests turning violent, but cannot be guaranteed it won’t happen in future. Former Judge Michael Saldanha (Retd) has been closely associated with the case and has served legal notices served on both Bishop William and Archbishop Machado of Bangalore. There are many more gory and criminal details but enough for now. 2. The Goa Chronicle news report dated 21 Oct, 2019 reads as follows, ‘37 Priests appeal to Pope Francis to remove Bishop of Mysore on accusations of marriage, parenthood, sexual liaisons and corruption’. 3. Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar Diocese who has been charge sheeted over rape of nun, and has been avoiding summons for 13 times has been given ultimatum to be present on 13th July or face consequences. Sister Lucy Kalapura, who voiced her opposition to Bishop Mulakkal has been subjected to harrowing experiences. 4. The UCAnews headlines of July 02, 2020 screams, ‘Third Catholic priest ends life in India in 10 days’ 5. THE HINDU, a major newspaper reported on May 07, 2020 that the body of a 21- year-old novice, Divya P. John was found in a well in Kerala, 6. The national newspaper The Times of India dated May 21, 2019 headline is printed, ‘Mumbai archbishop in dock for ‘inaction’ in sodomy case whilst referring to the case of Fr. Lawrence Johnson (52) for allegedly abusing a teenage boy from his parish in 2015. The investigation by the police also includes the role of two bishops in this sad saga. Another media outlet. Given the testimony of the parents and the medical reports, Fr. Lawrence should have been defrocked by now. The hierarchy cannot hide behind the legal curtain in which it is no secret as to how loopholes can be found, delaying tactics deployed to prolong the case, not forgetting the mental agony the family has to go through. 7. Mumbai Mirror on Apr 1, 2019 headline reads, ‘Priest, builder named in Rs 10 million cheating case’ whilst referring to Fr. Donald from the Bombay Archdiocese. 8. Mumbai Mirror news dated Nov 23, 2018 reads, ‘Royal row over sale of land donated by Queen Victoria’ which deals with the questions over how a 5-acre plot was sold to developer in 2007 even though government resolution says such ‘sanad’ land cannot be sold. The land donated to the Roman Catholic Church, on which Our Lady of Mercy Church in Thane, Maharashtra stands was sale of part of this land to a developer which raised the hackles of Catholics. This questionable sale of land had got the consent of the Archdiocese of Bombay under Oswald Cardinal Gracias. 9. With regards to the issue of Marinagar Society, Mahim - a prime location Bombay the advocate for the Marinagar Society argued that the Church and the builder were “attempting to illicitly load extra free space index or transfer development rights on the plot for construction to what had been promised to them.” The case is still on. 10.The complaint against the OCD Provincial and priests, Parish Finance Committee members, Aux.Bishop and Oswald Cardinal Gracias was filed and the trial is going on in Thane Court with regards to several issues pertaining to St’ Joseph Church, Mira Road, Thane Maharashtra. 11.The gory incident of Fr. K. J. Mathews, Rector of St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary is still fresh and sends shivers down our spine. The Tablet, UK based media outlet headline dated 04 Dec, 2015 reads, ‘Six priests and four laymen now charged in the murder of seminary rector, Bangalore, India.”

These are few cases mentioned above, the list is much more. In Bombay itself there are plenty of issues and complaints filed. These issues could have been settled amicably at the initial stage but No! The parishioners who approaches the local parish priest is then subjected to much more humiliation and ridicule making him/her run from one priest to another (Dean – Vicar General – Aux Bishop – Another entity designated to handle the issue – The Cardinal – even The CBCI and The Apostolic Nuncio). This is sheer harassment and a strategy to break the resolve in getting to the bottom of the truth. To be very honest, many victims do not reveal the atrocities committed on them for reasons of skewed religious beliefs, backlash from the clerics and ostracization, social stigma, community boycott, time constraints, hopelessness, and the sheer amount of money involved in mounting legal challenge when all pastoral avenues get exhausted. Overall, one gets a very sorry picture about the way the administration of the Church hierarchy here in India fulfils its role and particularly the role of Oswald Cardinal Gracias. His empty promises, hollow words, silence and inaction are his forte and one wonders at him being labeled as ‘who could be next Pope’ (ThePrint on 23rd Feb, 2019 begins the report as, ‘Mumbai’s archbishop, who could be next Pope, accused of ignoring sexual abuse complaints’) is amusing. We, simply and earnestly urge Your Holiness, to review the pastoral scenario in the whole of the Church in India. We expect action and justice. Why is it so hard to expect one, when the Church is supposed to be understanding and just? The happenings in the Church and in particular, the time period to resolve issues has crossed all limits of civility and patience. If not, then the Church is not working towards the fulfilment of Jesus Mission. The blue print Ecclesia In Asia will remain just an ornamental blueprint not worth the paper it is written on. The Catholic Church in India is being seen as only interested in 1making money, selling properties, suppressing truth, inaction and killing the voices (clergy as well). We were never brought up to witness such Church! In the Service of Christ,

Robert Raymond D'Souza 206, Asmita Breeze, Station Road, Nayanagar, Mira Road East, Thane - 401107 Maharashtra, India. Mobile Number: 8779986032 Email Id: [email protected] Member, The Association of Concerned Catholics (AOCC)