THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: When Basanio Louise's father-in-law passed away at the eve of Maundy Thursday two years in the past, he had a serious problem handy. Due to problems his family and a few different parishioners at Balaramapuram had with the Thiruvananthapuram diocese, the native church refused to perform the mandatory last rites and even bury the frame.
"They made me run everywhere seeking permission for the funeral ceremony. I even went to Bishop's House at Neyyatinkara but to no avail. Finally, we buried my father-in-law Maniyan in the church's graveyard without any ceremony, which was heart-breaking for not just the family but the entire community," mentioned Basanio.
That used to be in March 2017. Now, other people like Basanio - a wall painter who additionally does different ordinary jobs - who have been nearly ostracised by way of the Church have an choice. They can "rent" a priest so that they too may have ceremonies related to start, dying and marriage executed in line with the Christian religion and sacraments. They can turn to dozens of priests who're part of the Open Church Movement.
"Denial of various rituals like holy communion, marriage or house warming rites has been effectively used against believers if they question the Church. That is when we decided to offer rent-a-priest services. Former priests and nuns agreed to offer services and it was a major relief for believers who have questioned the Church and are facing the consequences," says Reji Njallani, chairman of Open Church Movement.
The motion used to be based in 2014 when round 600 former priests and nuns from across the country - who have been both expelled or selected to leave their congregation - attended a gathering convened by way of Njallani. One of them used to be 72-year-old Joseph J Pallath, expelled from the Society of Jesus in 2000. He used to be the first priest in the state to protest his dismissal, and later carried out a 44-day one-man agitation challenging repayment from the Church. Now, Pallath is back as a priest in the Open Church Movement. In January, he wore his vestments once more to behavior the holy feast at St Sebastian Church at Balaramapuram.
The Latin Archdiocese of Neyyattinkara and the parish of the Balaramapuram church have been at loggerheads over the possession of round 18 acres of land, and the archdiocese saved the church closed for round 10 months. At the time of the yearly feast, the parish approached the Open Church Movement and Pallath to behavior the feast.
Pallath mentioned he used to be jobless and penniless when he used to be expelled. "I was one of the first persons to secure a PhD in anthropology in the state. During my priesthood, I had quit an educational institution to do social services. However, when I questioned a corrupt land deal of the Church, I was asked to leave. Expelled priests and nuns are the most stigmatized community," he mentioned.
The situation used to be similar for Maria Thomas, now secretary of Ex-Priests and Nuns Association, when she left her congregation in 1999 after 20 years. "Social stigma is a major issue for priests and nuns who quit or leave. Finding a job or a partner at that age is very difficult. In most cases, families too are not ready to accept you," she mentioned.
The motion is all set to query various unethical practices of the Church equivalent to makes an attempt to cover sexual crimes and paedophilia.
"They made me run everywhere seeking permission for the funeral ceremony. I even went to Bishop's House at Neyyatinkara but to no avail. Finally, we buried my father-in-law Maniyan in the church's graveyard without any ceremony, which was heart-breaking for not just the family but the entire community," mentioned Basanio.
That used to be in March 2017. Now, other people like Basanio - a wall painter who additionally does different ordinary jobs - who have been nearly ostracised by way of the Church have an choice. They can "rent" a priest so that they too may have ceremonies related to start, dying and marriage executed in line with the Christian religion and sacraments. They can turn to dozens of priests who're part of the Open Church Movement.
"Denial of various rituals like holy communion, marriage or house warming rites has been effectively used against believers if they question the Church. That is when we decided to offer rent-a-priest services. Former priests and nuns agreed to offer services and it was a major relief for believers who have questioned the Church and are facing the consequences," says Reji Njallani, chairman of Open Church Movement.
The motion used to be based in 2014 when round 600 former priests and nuns from across the country - who have been both expelled or selected to leave their congregation - attended a gathering convened by way of Njallani. One of them used to be 72-year-old Joseph J Pallath, expelled from the Society of Jesus in 2000. He used to be the first priest in the state to protest his dismissal, and later carried out a 44-day one-man agitation challenging repayment from the Church. Now, Pallath is back as a priest in the Open Church Movement. In January, he wore his vestments once more to behavior the holy feast at St Sebastian Church at Balaramapuram.
The Latin Archdiocese of Neyyattinkara and the parish of the Balaramapuram church have been at loggerheads over the possession of round 18 acres of land, and the archdiocese saved the church closed for round 10 months. At the time of the yearly feast, the parish approached the Open Church Movement and Pallath to behavior the feast.
Pallath mentioned he used to be jobless and penniless when he used to be expelled. "I was one of the first persons to secure a PhD in anthropology in the state. During my priesthood, I had quit an educational institution to do social services. However, when I questioned a corrupt land deal of the Church, I was asked to leave. Expelled priests and nuns are the most stigmatized community," he mentioned.
The situation used to be similar for Maria Thomas, now secretary of Ex-Priests and Nuns Association, when she left her congregation in 1999 after 20 years. "Social stigma is a major issue for priests and nuns who quit or leave. Finding a job or a partner at that age is very difficult. In most cases, families too are not ready to accept you," she mentioned.
The motion is all set to query various unethical practices of the Church equivalent to makes an attempt to cover sexual crimes and paedophilia.
Rent-a-priest boon for the ostracised in Kerala
![Rent-a-priest boon for the ostracised in Kerala]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
March 17, 2019
Rating:
