Print all in new window – Shri Jose Paul (Delhi) to the Apostolic Nuncio
A letter written by Shri Jose Paul (Delhi) to the Apostolic Nuncio with copies to the Bishop of Faridabad and the Archbishop of Delhi
Your Excellency Salvatore Pennacchio,
I am prompted to write this note after I saw a reply sent by your Nunciature to the Laity4Unity group.
Unknown to the overwhelming majority of Delhi Catholics of Syro Malabar (SM) origin, it appears that a “committee” had been formed under Your Excellency’s guidance to take decisions about the status of the movable and immovable properties of the Latin Catholic diocese and the new SM diocese. It appears that this Committee consisted of the members of the two Hierarchies and a few lay people from both sides. When such a major item (such as the setting up of a new Eparchy) is discussed, surely the citizens of the Church (I mean the lay people, who are the main contributors and the main affected) have a right to know who decided to form such a “committee”, who selected the members of the “committee”, who were the members of the “committee”, and what was the procedure of selection of the “committee”. Were they selected from the pastoral councils of the Dioceses? Or were these all secret manipulations? What were the mandates (terms of references) of this “committee”?
Was this “committee” entrusted with dividing the people of the Church and distorting or contradicting the teachings of Jesus? Will a “committee” from the members of the hierarchy be formed now to educate church citizens on the fundamental difference, if any, between the two rites in faith matters? That will enable us to move to the side our consciences tell us is correct.
The Syrian Catholics in Delhi (like their counterparts in other parts of India other than in Kerala) who wish to remain in the Catholic faith but not as “Latins” or “Syrians”, and whose faith is not concerned about the financial wealth of any church or the political ambitions of its prelates, approached the Bishops. All they desired was to be permitted to remain as Catholics in Delhi the way they had been living for decades without delinking them from their roots, families, society and church in Kerala. Since they could not get any satisfactory answer, they approached the Pope and his Apostolic Nuncio in Delhi.
Your Excellency, although the representative of the Pope in India, instead of opening a dialogue with the hierarchical authorities concerned and the people affected by these inhuman activities, first insisted that the Petitioners discuss this in the above “committee”. When that was done (much against the reservations of the Petitioners) and reported to Your Excellency, you replied that you had sent the letter to the Archbishops as it is a matter concerning them. Nobody needs an Apostolic Nuncio to do the job of a postman. This action is akin to Pontius Pilot washing his hands and handing over Jesus to the Pharisaic hierarchy to be crucified. The history of Crucifixion seems to be repeating itself.
Would it not seem that the Apostolic Nuncio of this country, in collusion with an ambitious group of Indian Bishops, is working relentlessly against the Church and against Pope Francis himself (whom Your Excellency avowedly represents), who tirelessly laments the divisions in the church and pleads to build the love of Jesus and unity within the church?
It appears then that the time has come for the citizens of the Catholic Church in India, to revolt against the hierarchical and clerical Church, whose sole interest seems to be to rule and enslave the 99.9% of church citizens, whom it is supposed to serve with humility.
Jose Paul,
Parish : Church of Divine Mercy. Dellhi 34.
Dated 3rd Oct 2015.
