BEING RESPONSIBLE in spite of being avoided, if not ignored!

BEING RESPONSIBLE in spite of being avoided, if not ignored!

Presbyterium 16^th July 2013 [Latin Archdiocese of Trivandrum]

·         Since September 2011 I was keeping myself away from the archdiocese (almost 2 years)

·         Those two were eventful years with the i) Platinum Jubilee; ii) Synod; iii) Living in together besides others

·         Not signing the Parish Accounts since then while at Thycaud

·         No Retreat, Chrism Mass or Presbyteriums etc.

·         Haven’t taken charge of Malamukal to this day…!

Some Pertinent Questions: Even if the archbishop doesn’t want to address the problem and you, my colleagues seem not to bother of a priest like me, I feel that I should tell you as to why I have chosen to keep away for the past almost two years.

With almost 33 years of priesthood, and that too responsibly lived, should one be treated so impersonally? Not that I want to be somewhere, but rather the presbyterium can’t afford that way to leave everything to such an omniscient and omnipotent archbishop. (Public accountability and responsibility)

Just for some possible posts or other positions, let us not compromise our call. We not called to servility, but to freedom and together build the Kingdom in our situations.

= But for the last, no holding me accountable or responsible nor any queries or questioning! Even the last one, only when I poked through some insider! Then I have clearly told the reasons for my willful abstaining and nothing was done to address them nor could enforce any discipline or disciplinary action!

= What does it convey!? It is up to you to draw convenient conclusions! Where will it all end up?

This ‘avoidance attitude’ which certainly is not that of Jesus, is there continue, unless something drastic is forced by people in their good sense for the welfare of the archdiocese which is seemingly tragically left to the archbishop and his chosen ones!

There certainly are achievements to be proud of/ take credit from, like the Engineering College and the like. (Did anyone ever bothered to know who brought forth and began implementing that very idea!?) But all that becomes dismal in the face of public defecation in the Karumkulam Panchayat, that is our coasts there and thereby digging holes in the claim to ‘God’s own country’; and the poorest literacy rates in the Trivandrum coast making people to question the universal literacy claim of the state!

Public relations, of late, has caught up with other publicity savvy organizations like the empty vessels making noise. Yesterday’s Hindu carried two news items besides the face book propaganda.

The diocese I was ordained for:

@ Since 1980, that was when I was ordained, some 110 were ordained so far!

Three bishops; the present one is made bishop and later archbishop

Of those with whom I began my ministry some 48 have gone to their eternal reward, while some 6 have left for good.

Of the remaining 20 priests who were ordained before me, only 12 are in active ministry and the rest are retired.

-      2 of my classmates are bishops

-      Few of them VGs

-      One a rector of major seminary

-      Yet another, the Definitor General of Carmelites

-      Two were Provincials (Carmelites and Capuchins)

Things out of the way: Twice was I Senate Secretary

-      Twice again Director of Education Ministry, and once Corporate Manager

-      Manager of two individual management schools.

-      Abstained from allowance and stipends for almost 10 years since 1992

-      Nearly 4 months of Ashram life (Contemplative order)

-      Nuh Mission

-      American Apostolate

-      CPCI, National treasurer

-      Editorial Board at ORA Magazine

Academic: Post Graduation in Philosophy and Biblical Theology. Doing the same in Law now

After having enrolled, practicing as a lawyer at the Trivandrum Bar.

Events that shook…

-      Two police firings leaving one dead and others with casualties.

-      Village fight resulting in the loss of 5/6 lives

RSS fight and one was allegedly drowned and was listed as an accused and went underground for almost 2 years, besides self exile with the parishners for quite some time.

Claims to have no bad habits and have good number of friends on both spectrum of humanity, that is male and females. 

Some loud thinking….

17^th June 2013 Some loud thinking….

‘Under normal circumstances, one would expect that every individual must be loyal to his or her family. But when one’s family discards dharmic ways, one is duty bound to keep one’s distance from such family…’ (The Hindu, Monday, June 17, 2013 ‘Religion’ in p.6)

For some quite some time, almost for two years, am keeping my distance from my ‘diocesan family’! In the mean time ‘much water flew under Thames’ and none bothered to know why someone is keeping away. It was the days of Platinum Jubilee of the diocese, yet another ‘living together’, the much hyped Synod, which still could be challenged on technical grounds, and so on. Following are some of the serious enough reasons which rather force me to keep aloof, after having attempted enough number of times in vain to convince the leadership whom a courtier team keeps cushy, ostensibly for their interest than of the people’s…!

The leadership doesn’t seem to bother about different views, let alone dissenting views! As A. S. Panneerselvan, the Readers’ Editor of ‘the Hindu’ in his column of 17^th June 17, 2013 quotes Sunil Khilani speaking of the ‘idea of India’; the leadership seemingly fails to grasp the ‘idea of Trivandrum diocese’! This idea is ‘not homogenous and univocal. In fact, no single idea can possibly hope to capture the many energies, angers, and hopes…’ of two lakh plus people. The idea of Trivandrum diocese must be the ‘one that can enable other ideas to emerge, and allow them to learn to live alongside one another… A comparatively populous diocese, naturally ‘with diverse and conflicting interests can be a better home for liberty, a safer have against tyranny, than homogenous and exclusive ones. Within them, factions and differences can check one another, moderating ideological fervor and softening power.’

It may not be pleasing for a tyrannical leadership, however ‘pious’, clever and ecclesiastical he is, to acknowledge and act upon differing views. But there is no other go than this attitude and approach for the betterment of the people in his care. ‘Hearken to the voice of the people…’ is what the Lord wanted of Samuel (1 Sam 8:7) but ‘warn them’ the possible pitfalls, if you are so sure of.

However good and efficient one is, he could be duped by his lieutenants as is reported of the developments with the Chief Minister’s office with regard to the ‘solar scam’ of late. This could only be restrained through transparency and accountability which is not really there in the systems in the diocese. The claim of accountability is for name’s sake and that too is only before those few people who are arbitrarily picked and chosen! Auditing may be there, but not real internal auditing!

This is equally applicable with regard to the making of policies and the much claimed and equally half baked decentralization, though the real ‘centre’ is an enigma!

A letter for my brother...

Dear Johnrose,

By this time, you must be more or less settled down with all those events and situations which troubled you and your family. I did try to stand on your shoes to understand you as a loving, caring and responsible father. Emotions might have given way to seasoned thinking after this much time.

Yes, it is me, Pankiras. If that very name annoys, you need not proceed further. Take your own time to get back to your mother at least, before it may be too late. Almost a year back, sent you a letter, without bothering to reveal the identity, on your birth day as it can’t easily be forgotten. Hope, you got it. Two more weeks remaining there for your birth day, comes another day, Fathers’ Day!’

You were and are a good and responsible father, going any extent to bring joy to your children. You are a good and loyal husband and in-law too. May you have all the joys of those relishing relations! But one has to have some other ‘sine qua non’ relations which you seemingly have either disregarded or the later relations have eclipsed that! If that makes you comfortable, carry on with. Those a priori relations long to come in search of that ‘lost’….

They might not have positively supported you or your concerns. But certainly did they not oppose you or did anything to harm you or your people, though it might have looked so! May be that time will prove and they seemingly are not in a hurry to prove anything. If I understand rightly, your mother still earns for you. Being a loving father, you won’t fail to understand such maternal feelings.

Happy fathers’ day!

a deaf ear...

To

The Archbishop

Even after having been repeatedly given a deaf ear, am writing this note to let you know of some seriously troubling developments, in case you are not yet aware of them, or … It may not go well with the diocese, its image and good name and that hurts very much…

1.   The other day one of our advocates in our office had shown me a complaint by a woman against a ‘priest’ of our diocese. That was given by the said priest in order to engage one of our advocates to defend him… One can more or less guess as to the possible fall out in a court of justice by way of evidence and other proceedings.

2.  Another of our priests has seemingly filed a complaint few weeks back in a police station regarding an anonymous letter and has seen to it that some of his parishners were implicated and were brought to the police station and has threatened them there with severe consequences. Probably that also may come to the court in due time. It may not be to his taste and he may have to defend matters threadbare when people would rather be forced to bring them to the attention of the court. There is yet another relevant saying in this regard: ‘Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones!’

Hope, you won’t let this slip out of control this time like the litigation on the church construction at Vettucaud and so on. ‘A stitch in time saves nine.’

Act urgently to save those concerned and ultimately the diocese. One can’t stand helpless in such situations. There should be a damage control mechanism. Have some genuine moral authority over our priests at least. They need to be brought to toe the line and let them be models to the faithful and others or else let them honestly keep out.

Consumerist culture is seemingly very prevalent among our priests. They are worse, I think, than the corrupt politicians who would one day be answerable to the public at the polls or to the courts of justice. They seem to be very much after money, comfort, conveniences, power and position. Spirituality is rather misunderstood with ostentatious liturgy having least concern for the Word of God properly interpreted. Singing and other theatrics to impress upon the poor faithful looks like a box office formula!

After the Platinum Jubilee and Synod, let us have a relook into the authenticity of our priests which invariably has a direct impact on the life of the people of God.

Ignoring many vital issues of the people, priests are rather preoccupied with construction of churches, shrines, halls and rectories! In so doing they trample with the history and antiquity of our faith and all that represent it. It is an affront to the poverty of the ‘anawim’ of Yahweh. 

A reply is expected expediently so as to try other alternatives if needed to contain possible spill outs. 

Thanking you,

pancretius.

1^st June 2013

Dirty linens going public…

To

The Archbishop

Dirty linens going public…

Even after having been repeatedly given a deaf ear, am writing this confidential note to let you know of some seriously troubling developments, in case you are not yet aware of them, or … It may not go well with the diocese, its image and good name and that hurts very much…

1.   The other day one of our advocates in our office had shown me a complaint by a woman against a ‘priest’ of our diocese. That was given by the said priest in order to engage one of our advocates to defend him… One can more or less guess as to the possible fall out in a court of justice by way of evidence and other proceedings.

2.   One of our priests has seemingly filed a complaint few weeks back in a police station regarding an anonymous letter and has seen to it that some of his parishners were implicated and were brought to the police station and has threatened them there with severe consequences. Probably that also may come to the court in due time. It may not be to his taste and he may have to defend matters thread bare when people would rather be forced to bring them to the attention of the court. There is yet another relevant saying in this regard: ‘Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones!’

Hope, you won’t let this slip out of control this time like the litigation on the church construction at Vettucaud and so on. ‘A stitch in time saves nine.’

Act urgently to save those concerned and ultimately the diocese. One can’t stand helpless in such situations. Have some genuine moral authority over our priests at least. They need to be brought to toe the line and let them be models to the faithful and others or else let them honestly keep out.

Consumerist culture is seemingly very prevalent among our priests. They are worse, I think, than the corrupt politicians who would one day be answerable to the public at the polls or to the courts of justice. They seem to be very much after money, comfort, conveniences, power and position. Spirituality is rather misunderstood with ostentatious liturgy with least concern for the Word of God properly interpreted. Singing and other theatrics to impress upon the poor faithful looks like a box office formula!

After the Platinum Jubilee and Synod, let us have a relook into the authenticity of our priests which invariably has a direct impact on the life of the people of God.

Ignoring many vital issues of the people, priests are rather preoccupied with construction of churches, shrines, halls and rectories! In so doing they trample with the history and antiquity of our faith and all that represent it. It is an affront to the poverty of the ‘anawim’ of Yahweh. 

Enough is enough!

Enough is enough!

Having put up 22 years with this bishop out of my 32 years ministry and life in this dear diocese of ours, I forced myself on some kind of self-exile for nearly two years besides few intermittent withdrawals.

My acquaintance with him began way back in 1971 when I came to the seminary after my SSLC [11th standard]. Again he was there at Aluva teaching us ‘Prophets’ and ‘Wisdom Literature’ when the much sought after Fr. Koonthanam unceremoniously left the seminary due to an unjustly handled publication matter in ‘Mathavum Chinthayum’. He also taught us Liturgy.

Even then he seemed anything other than human! Jesus was known to have liked company and friends, including children. He was vulnerable like any other human and always felt solidarity with the marginalized. One of the greatest compliments for Jesus in the gospels is that ‘… he taught them as one who had authority…’ which was unheard of from Pakiam as was any manly traits.

Before designated as the co-adjutor, he never ever was an active priest nor did he contribute anything originally nor creatively other than being a passive and simpleton rector whose students are the majority of priests in this diocese today. What a rich source it could have turned out to be, if he had little wit and wisdom.

From the very beginning he seemed to extract all ‘power’ leaving none with any power. That he carries on to this day, in spite of his growing old and weak, all the more so in the matter of finance which he keeps to himself and to his courtiers [finance council] in a non-transparent manner.

He conveniently and cunningly never takes any theological, canonical or liturgical positions, even the one upheld by the official church! Even after the very pope himself relinquished his papacy on health grounds, he shamelessly holds on the position/lie that Rome asked him to manage with the Episcopal Vicars instead of an auxiliary. And now no Episcopal Vicars are there for the diocese other than for the ‘Tamil region.’ Tamil region does not even have Tamil liturgy! His decentralization is only a lip service.

Holiness is wholeness and it can’t but be transparent. In no field he seems to be transparent, whether it be spiritual, temporal or otherwise. This makes things difficult to get along with. Some time back he even suggested that I could opt out without bothering himself to challenge my views, let alone question or negate my stand. The high drama in this contrary, if not contradictory view is that he could not even invoke the weapon of ‘obedience from his arsenal!’ 

Now, let me come to my story a bit. As Paul would boast in the Acts 22:3 ‘brought up … at the feet if Gamaliel…’ let me also boast of some of my teachers: Joseph Pathrapankal, Jose Vadakkethala, George Koonthanam, Pathiparambil, George Fernandez, Soosa Pakiam to name a few of my scripture teachers as I still am an ardent student of scripture availing all possible literature, whether periodicals, journals or books available here. In one of my withdrawals did M. Th in Biblical Theology from Dharmaram.

As I understand, the disciples were a movement, known as the ‘Path’ which in course of time became institutionalized as we call it today as church. In the evolved stage, the spirit of Jesus, who washed his disciples’ feet and called them friends, slowly and gradually disappeared. What we see today predominantly is the vestiges of royal priesthood, feudalistic insignia and titles and style of functions. This is agitating my understanding of Jesus and his gospel of the kingdom of God. However, I struggled with the structure and system vis-à-vis my convictions hoping one day things would change for the better.

This can better be described by the two latest findings in Kerala with regard to our people. 1) The open defecation at Karumkulam panchayat, the only place in Kerala, is an affront to the claim of ‘God’s own country’! 2) Thiruvananthapuram coast is on par with Malapuram in illiteracy even when this state claims universal literacy. What mighty little have we done to eliminate/ameliorate such shameful ‘honours’ for our people? When we spent crores on building churches, shrines, rectories, ‘community’ halls and the like besides pumping money for the feasts and so on, what about the schools in our parishes? The indifferent administration, to say the least, could not even save a college brought up by few of our priests at Thoothoor.

When we taught them to be a believing people, did we ever move our little finger even to make them a people with self-esteem also? Wanting them to be like foolish sheep, we kept them illiterate and insulated from any external influence which could possibly enlighten them. The religiosity we advocated was never a liberating one instead was enslaving.

Whenever representing them with the ruling dispensation, we were keener to safeguard the institutional interest than of the real issues of the people, like their livelihood etc. Unfortunately that institution itself was enslaving and exploiting.

When we could raise revenues in lakhs, if not crores for all and sundry causes purely from their hard labour and sweat, we never bothered to present the accounts nor establish any auditing machinery. It is vogue for the incumbent to desist accounting. Holding control over fiscal matters without disclosures would eventually hold the people under their control, they might have presumed foolishly! People were not really consulted on any worthwhile matters or decision having far reaching impacting in their lives.

After prolonged illness and amputation of his legs, Bishop Jacob could no longer manage the diocese and sought for a co-adjutor instead of an auxiliary. We were all excited to have Fr. Soosa Pakiam as the co-adjutor, with his low profile in the diocese. The otherwise simpleton fr. Pakiam became the sole authority of the diocese overnight. It is said that in order to know the real person, one needs to be given authority/power. The real Pakiam we were all experiencing in one way or other all these days and that too to the detriment of the diocese in its onward march to keep pace with those communities which had already marched well ahead.

In this crucible/test, he failed from the very beginning alienating the seniors with contempt. Having no experience or expertise in administration, he could not be comfortable with the ones known for that but instead he trusted the so called ideologues who then had a considerable backing due to various reasons. Now, having conveniently watered down their ideologies, they are adjusting and accommodating with power sharing in a number of guises.  The prophetic voice is stifled by the offer of position and possession due to the non-transparent and unaccountable handling of finances.

========================

For almost one and a half years I was keeping aloof from any diocesan activities, including the Chrism Mass and the Ordinations even. Adding insult to injury I have assumed charge of the parish on the strength of the appointment letter alone without the usual canonical installation. I was not signing the monthly abstract or the parish accounts in the previous parish. The leadership was stoic in its insensitivity to all of these and could do nothing to challenge or stop me!

The much hyped Platinum Jubilee and the Synod of tall claims passed away without ever making any attempt to get back the ‘lost’ sheep! What else can one infer from this callous insensitivity other than the unchristian message that, if you don’t want to toe the line, get lost? All were like an aborted firework in a festivity, like a mountain giving birth to a rat!

I do not know whether this honourable presbyterium ever wanted to know why at all some of you keep away or kept away or whether you approve of the indifferentism of the authority! Presuming that none of you would ever accuse me of irresponsibility, I feel obliged to tell you why I have kept aloof all these days.

Christian authority is to serve; holiness is to be transparent, stewardship is to be accountable and responsible. This is what I was taught and understand of the gospels.  Whenever authority was used to dominate, holiness to hide, stewardship to be irresponsible and arbitrary I criticized it, denounced it, desisted and resisted it.

I don’t have any tall claim or presumptions than telling you that I tried to live my life and ministry the way I understood the scriptures and certainly according to my convictions, openly as far as one could normally. Never ever did I aspire for any so called ‘higher’ offices or ‘big’ parishes, nor did I canvas even indirectly or unknowingly. More than I loved the people, they rather suffocated me with their love and appreciation, wherever I was, though I had the sole credit of misfortunes from the very second year onwards to witness deaths, rather killings of precious human lives either by their own or by the police. Had the rare and painful experience of fleeing with the people and going underground for fear of arrest or attack by religious fanatics.

I must acknowledge that this bishop placed his trust in me number of times – twice as the Senate secretary and twice as the Director of the BoE and in the second tenure as the Corporate Manager also. I think I haven’t betrayed his trust, though I could not agree with his stands which often times seemed to autocratic and arbitrary. Let me boast a while telling you that it was in my tenure the decision to establish an Engineering College was taken in the Board and that you see realized as Marian Engineering College.

Though there are enough chances to disagree with him even in matters of faith and morals, by extension to the realm of liturgy and so on, I have confined my disagreement with the fiscal management which was quite arbitrary and non- transparent besides being not at all accountable, implying social auditing in particular. The authority warms itself saying that there is the ‘Finance Council’! It is a pick and chose mechanism whereby those picked and chosen were understandably more loyal to the bishop than the diocese or the people, the ‘anawim’/poor of Yahweh. There was no real criterion for this exercise too.

Though don’t have any intention of raking up the old skeletons in the cub board, I challenge the way people were raised to high offices before clearing their alleged involvement in serious allegations both fiscal and otherwise, including the ones the very bishop acknowledged before an august assembly. What else could be the expectation of the appointing authority than such people’s servile and docile approach? The appointees did more than what was expected of, as their allegiance was more towards the authority than the people/poor of Yahweh.

Church may not be a democracy, but to ‘play God’ before ignorant people is too much in our days. This is what precisely the authority plays when they behave arbitrarily and unaccountably. I really don’t think that the church has or should have anything to hide, especially on money matters. This is what specifically the authority does.

Collective wisdom is the rule in the church, as I understand. The famous infallibility is exercised by collective process than by individual one. Even the sharpest of minds or the ablest of administrators don’t dare any serious decision solely or even behind closed doors. This is what precisely takes place in our situation. The so-called college of consultors is understandably manipulated and used only as a preview theatre to inform a decision prior to public announcement! Any number of cases could be cited like the bishop’s house maintenance, the lip-service decentralization and the eventual relinquishing of the Episcopal vicariates and so on.

The authority being not free, can’t really free the people, fettered for so long in the chains of ignorance and self-pity, with any worthwhile attempts. Such authority can’t be creative and bold for that matter. It remains timid and insensitive to the dissent or criticism. Truth is the casualty here as it is through dialectics truth comes out for which thesis and anti-thesis is a must.

Its advisors are there only to please and not to bring out the truth and do justice to the rest of the people. They can’t call a spade a spade in order to retain the bones thrown out. 

Yet another letter to the archbishop...

Dear Archbishop,

You seem to give a deaf ear to my communications, the last of which was entrusted to your VG to be handed over to you. That was on my rightful wages for sustenance for the services rendered. You seem to play with, if not deny my livelihood which certainly is not your concession, but my right.

If at all one offers anything, it should be done so freely, not on demand like the‘Missa pro populo.’ Every act of a priest, especially his prayers, not Eucharistic celebration alone, must be for the people entrusted to him. A labourer is entitled for his wages before the sun goes down. You have failed miserably in the test of a ‘faithful and wise steward whom the master will set over his household to give them their portion of food at the proper time.’  Being a livelihood issue, you should have acted upon expediently.

Not that I do not know of your inactive, if not insensitive ‘tactics’. If only you knew the meaning and import of the saying: ‘A stitch in time saves nine.’ You have done enough damages to many priests, parishes and the diocese even.

You may not understand what ‘a hand to mouth’ living means. You seem to be born with ‘a silver spoon in mouth’ for such ones everything is provided on a golden platter. Added to this, you seem to be ‘more catholic than the pope’ even! With your kind of ‘spirituality’ ruin whatever remains still with the blessings of your lieutenants, the ‘yes men’ courtiers.

Don’t warm yourself in the thought of remaining quiet for long seemingly fooling the entire diocese minus your courtiers. The day is not far when you will be forced to answer for all of your grievous omissions which have hurt the diocese irrecoverably. That will be a cursed day for you without many to support you.

There is still time to repent and mend your ways and win the lost ones for whom Jesus, the good shepherd exemplarily left the ninety nine in the wilderness. [2.3.13]