Who Destroys Indian Christian Families? Peddlers of Pure Blood: Deadly Virus
Laity all over India is up in arms(see Sathya Jwala, Almayasabdam and memorandums sent to CBCI and Pope, against Indian Bishops, especially SyroMalabar, for turning a blind eye to the rotten practice of pure blood promotion in Kottayam, Chicago & other places.
It is the most glaringly vulgar example of breaking up Christian families by bishops themselves, supposed to be shepherds and protectors of family and that during this two-year synod study on the family.
Public pressure must be brought to force Bishops to take it up at least before they go for Rome Synod. No use discussing minor problems ignoring or pretending not to see this major,deadly virus. So this article. Please give it due prominence in your next IC and thanks.
The second attachment is Bp.Angadiath’s letter for you to see his signature clearly. Please post it prominently in Almaya and get all concerned to add their comments to prod our bishops to act. Thanks and God bless.
The sprawling field hospital called the Catholic Church, as described by Pope Francis, its Chief Physician, the mortally wounded in the family ward in India are victims hit by the shrapnel called Endogamy which cuts in to scatter what God has united. Why do doctors resist treating these victims, nay even refuse to take note of them in this year of the Family? Dr James Kottor
What is that deadly virus, the terminator first and foremost, that destroys Catholic families in India? All know it, all see it, the affected laity cry for help, but none in the hierarchy dares to open its mouth to name it in public due to the shame attached to it in this day and age. It is Endogamy, promoted in the Kottayam diocese by the triumvir in the Syro-Malabar Church (SMC) by their written approval and blessing. Proof? Please read in subdued voice, lest others hear and get scandalized, the instruction below in Mar Jacob Angadiath’s letter head:
Bishop. Angadiath’s Signed letter of Sept.19/14
Prot.No.1799/2014
Dear & Rev. Fathers & Knanaya Community Members,
Glory to God in the highest. Amen
I am glad to inform you that the membership in the personal parish/mission for Knanaya Catholics is settled through the discussion of the issue in the Synod of Syro Malabar Bishops and final agreement reached by His Beatitude Mar George Cardinal Alencharry, the Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church, His Grace Mar Mathew Moolakatt, the Archbishop of Kottayam and Mar Jacob Angadiath, the Bishop of St.Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago.
A personal parish/mission for Knanaya Catholics will have only Knanaya Catholics as members. If a Knanaya Catholic belonging to a Knanaya parish/mission enters into marriage with a non-Knanaya partner, that non-Knanaya partner and children from that marriage will not become members of the Knanaya parish/mission but will remain members of the local non-Knanaya Syro Malabar parish/mission.
Please pray for our new Auxiliary Bishop-elect Mar Joy Alappat and for the blessing of his Episcopal ordination on September 27, 2014. Let us support and pray for our St. Thomas Syro Malabar Diocese of Chicago.
May the Lord bless you.
Your loving Pithavu
Singed
Mar Jacob Angadiath,
Bishop
Fence Eating the Crop?
I leave you to judge the beatific and graceful content of the letter. If this is not equivalent to fence eating the crop what else is it? Wolves in sheep’s cloth devouring or scattering the flock? Who will guard the guards themselves (Qui custodiet ipsos custodes)? Aren’t the SMC bishops doing just the opposite of what Jesus bluntly and forcefully commanded: “What God has united, let no man separate?”
But according to SMC’s understanding, non-Knananites married to Knananites can unite freely in their bed rooms to make love and multiply but neither they nor their children have any right to be together in parish activities and worship. Is this the marriage bond Jesus envisioned to promote? Is this what Pope Francis is trying to cultivate among Catholics with his two-year synod study on Christian families?
During the last one year of world-wide survey to identify unchristian hurdles that beak up Catholic families, no bishop in India raised this painfully pestering sinister Indian problem for public discussion and resolution, although they cited some very minor peripheral issues like inter-religious marriages, national birth control norms that do not gel with Christian ethics, dowry etc. But many right thinking lay people in Kottayam diocese itself highlighted this central sore issue, conducted seminars, sent several memorandums to bishops, even to Pope and made protest demonstrations against what is considered a callous, calculated silence to cover up the issue by SM Bishops and those belonging to Latin and Syro Malankara Churches for their connivance, complicity and silent approval of the deadly practice.
Lay Voice Ignored
In fact right thinking sections among the Knananites in Kottayam diocese started highlighting the issue in an organized manner already in 2013 when they conducted a Seminar in the Syro Malabar Cathedral Hall in Chicago on August 3rd 2013. Reports of it were published in Kerala Express, Chicago, Indian Currents, Delhi, Almayasabdam, Kerala and in many other Christian and secular outlets. Visit: http://sites.google.com/site/jameskottoorspeaking/ to read the Keynote address: Endogamy and Knananites.
It brought no response either from SMC or from the CBCI bishops. Then they sent memorandums and made a protest demonstration while the week long 31st CBCI meeting was held in Palai in February 2014 and sent another Memorandum to the Bishops. The SM bishops were contacted again when they held their synod in Kakkanad in August 16-30, 2014, and drafted the letter cited above, all to no avail. The latest is the letter: From: Knananaya Catholic Navikarana Society (KCNS), sent: To: The Secretary of Synod to be held on Oct.15th 20015. This also can be read in the above website.
All this lends weight to the saying:”There is something rotten in the State of Denmark.” The stink is suffocating, not only in the SM Church but in the whole church in India divided on three-fold Rite-lines (but wrong) and pulling in different directions. All know it and say, it is the worst curse of the Church in India. It prevents it from acting as one united body, as one family. Also it prevents any of the three Rites, all called Catholic, to utter anything uncomplimentary in public against any of the Rites, just to appear in public, they are all united in thought, word and deed. They are not. A house divided against itself cannot stand except for the pursuit of power, position and pelf, as do ever so many conflicting political parties. They support each other for survival and stop short of destroying each other by making comments causing displeasure or disapproval to fellow competitors in the musical chair for Episcopal thrones by any means.
The question is, whether this rotten, stinking issue in the Indian Church will again be swept under the carpet even during this second year focused on family, to prevent it from hogging the lime light and cause utter shame and ridicule for themselves in front of civilized world. Like the ostrich burying its head in the sand how long can they go on pretending they haven’t seen it, while it is clear like day light to people at home and abroad? “Hypocrisy” what else is your name for pretending not to see and admit a self-evident wrong and refusing to say “Mea Culpa”, sorry, and take corrective steps?
Coming Concluding Synod
The concluding second session of the two year mammoth study launched by Pope Francis on the Family of man is due to begin in Rome, coming October, in another five months.
The extraordinary Synod which concluded last October stood out for its transparency and open discussion without mincing words — vertical targeting even papal statements and horizontal between bishops on all accepted and controversial issues affecting family life starting from the ideal union of love in the service of life, to broken families, divorced and remarried, one-parent families, cohabitation and lesbian unions.
The standing instruction from that Synod was that Bishops all over the world should duplicate similar discussions and dialogues in their respective dioceses with their priests, religious and faithful at specially convened forums to search and find out problems peculiar to their region, culture and local customs to promote what is good and correct what is harmful to family well being.
Has anything happened in this area in India in the last six months? None to my knowledge. So is it going to be a repeat like last year of not doing anything to study ground realities? Already in 2013 Pope had sent a set of 39 questions to be distributed and answered by the faithful for study at the Extraordinary Synod in October 2014, but not done in India. To remedy that shameful failure on the part of the hierarchy, some lay initiative led by Sri Chottebhai did their best to conduct an ad hoc survey and consultation last year in Pune with the support of Catholic Church Reform International (CCRInt’l). Due to their limitations, survey was limited to one diocese and the much publicized meet reportedly was attended by some 30 people only.
CCRI’s Valuable Report
What remains to be done is to get the whole church, both pastors and faithful around the world to discuss and study the Lineamenta (the final basic preparatory draft) sent from Rome for study, and to be reported back to the Synod with suggestions. This in turn will be taken up at the coming Ordinary Synod for final discussion, modification and approval. We do not know at what stage it is in India. The latest news is, that at least the CCRI has been doing a non-stop in depth study of this Lineamenta, in the light of the data it collected from a global network of 100+ reform groups in some 60 countries
The result is a thought provoking 30 page suggestions and recommendations titled: “Response of Catholic Church Reform International to Questions Aimed at a Response to and an In-Depth Examination of the Relatio Synodi” for the Synod Fathers. It is wroth reading and meditating by all, especially by the Hierarchical Church in India which has done pretty little in this regard, as it happened last year. This CCRI response is already dispatched to Rome and is available for study at: www.CatholicChurchReformIntl.org.
Commenting on it writes one: “This is a very, very good document. The people who put it together need our heartiest congratulations and support. I hold my hands up in frustration though wondering how many people will even wade through the very discerning and carefully framed arguments they have put together. Partly the problem is simply time: people don't have the time in their lives. They want — even need and crave — simple, one, two or three line answers. There are so many questions about life that simply cannot be answered in one, two or three lines….. How many progressively-oriented people might read it and, even more so, how many bishops might read any of it?”
The writers therefore urge Catholics who believe that Church teachings do have to be interpreted in new ways need to “seek dialogue with those in the Church who are opposed to change. I think it is literally impossible. You cannot dialogue with these people. Even the Son of God himself couldn't dialogue with the equivalent elements in his own time who believed they alone were the arbiters and interpreters of "the mind of God" — they bloody well crucified him.”
At one point the CCRI’s response states: Opposition to any change and “Conversion most needed is on the part of the hierarchical church.” Does it not apply doubly or trebly (we in India stand on the tripod of three Rites, each tolerating the other two) to bishops in India who did practically nothing last year and are not seen doing anything special this year either, as of now?
The moot question therefore, is whether the SMC which produced and cultivates the Endogamy virus (some label it as “Racism” of Pure blood promotion), will ever dare to discuss the issue publicly and take drastic steps to stop the rot forthwith, instead of being seen as destroyers of Christ-willed Unity in Knanaya Christian families where Endogamy is cultivated and allowed to spread both in India and abroad?
If this can’t be done the least the Triumvir who produced the beatific Letter, cited above, to bless and promote the practice should do is to boldly imitate the glorious example of Pope Benedict XVI who quit, instead of sitting tight on his throne like dead road block – emasculated morally and blind spiritually — in the WAY of the Lord, in order to usher in a fertile, clear sighted and courageous Pope Francis. There should be no dearth of such prelates in SMC. What is important is to make straight the WAY of the Lord into the heart of every Christian home.
Contact at: jkottoor@asianetindia.com
Let there be more bishops to follow this example! Also, there should not be overriding of Latin and syro-malabar parishes. The basic thing is that one is catholic, whether one belongs to Latin or Syrian rite is quite peripheral.
Dear dr james I wish i have enough energy like you have, to write aganist endogamy and virus and all that.The action of kottayam dioces: expelling members from the parishes/dioces because of their marriage is absolutly insane and unchristian and can`t accept among civil socity.". Let us think for a minite that Kottayam Doices is doing this action for their own reasons of PURE BLOOD argument,. But why the NON- KNANAYA , S M C and their bishops are supporting it ??. This why kottayam dioces is still cotinuing this injustice in this modern socity where men are supposed to MIX & MINGLE with others. At this point i do blame the non knanaya Bishops for acepting those members when they get expelled. So, they are all partners in crime. Unless Cardinal Alenchery understands the JESUS`s teaching of LOVE, it is difficult to correct this deadly virus. In order to eradicate this unchristian practice,all the non-knanaya Bishops has to wake up for justice and the true followers of CHRIST and advocates of BIBLE. May God bless Dr. james for all his undertakings. One day, hope we all can take food from the same table and cosider all are made equal. Thanks.
I recntly submitted a comment. Moderator did not published it. it was witten in very good language. Why that comment was not published. Or you will only publish the comments which supports the writer to show that everybody in this world have the author's view. I can short my comment as follows: Establishmnet of syro malabar churches in Delhi and USA are justifiable, the establishent of Knanaya parishes are also justifiable. Otherwise, let us have a Universal Catholic Church under the pope means latin rite.
Dear Dr James Kottoor, I compliment you for your excellent piece “Peddlers …”. But one reaction to it – while intended to be complimentary- is the height of hypocrisy. That is the reaction of Eparch Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, who promotes and gladly presides over another equally deadly “cancer” (to use his own word) in Faridabad. He accuses the Knanayas of “tendancies (sic) to have priests, bishops, etc only from the same tribe and caste” and of “[creating] so many dioceses as these tribes and castes”. Is he speaking of the Knanayas or of his own Syro Malabar church? Purely to create dioceses for so many ambitious prelates, SM bishops go where they are not wanted: force congregations in the US, Canada, Europe, the UK and Australia (the SM church is rarely seen rushing off to Sierra Leone or Yemen!) to accept their “services”. In so doing they create an apartheidwithin these congregations; and repel the youth that has grown up and assimilated (as they should) into the new homes in which they live. How is the SM apartheid essentially different from the Knanaya apartheid? What teaching of Christ justifies the SM church considering itself as “aristocratic” and “the elite” (to use the phrases its own spokesmen used in the media) as against the “Latins” (whom they consider inferior)? The Eparch laments that “if such parishes are created, they start dividing families, ousting members, even from the ecclesial community!!! As long as they are in the ‘Catholic’ parish open to all, that problem can be avoided.” So why is his SM Church “dividing families [and] ousting members” in the Church in Delhi, which has existed for more than a century? Why does it not respect his own declared concept of a “Catholic parish open to all”? Besides still officially preventing marriages between Catholics (with absolutely no spiritual, pastoral or canonical support) by forcing parents to come and bow to SM priests, the SM church has even divided children in Catechism classes! The Eparch bemoans “opposition here bec of that”. Could the real opposition be because Knanayas (like SM Catholics settled in Delhi) refuse to bow to his dictates? Bishop Angadiath’s rightly denounced Announcement – supported wholeheartedly by the SM Cardinal – reads: “If a Knanaya Catholic belonging to a K parish/mission enters into marriage with a non-K partner, that non-K partner and children from that marriage will not become members of the K parish/mission but will remain members of the local parish/mission.” Pray, tell how is this in any way different from Eparch Kuriakose’s own “clarification” to The Statesman: “Our intention was to foster more unity and communion. Those who want to stay in the present parish, let them be. [But] One cannot think of being a “Latin” as long as one is in Delhi and an “oriental” when they are in another place. Either be an Indian or an American, you cannot be both.” Never mind that there is nothing in Canon law that the Eparch has been able to cite to support these “principles”. More importantly, however, Bishop Angadiath is saying the same thing in essence as Eparch Kuriakose: You can be what you want but you have to be out from “our” community (as though each community belongs to its bishops!). Everything you state in your candid article, and particularly the following, applies equally to the Knanayas and the SM Church. 1) Aren’t the SMC bishops doing just the opposite of what Jesus bluntly and forcefully commanded: “What God has united, let no man separate?” 2) Its stink is suffocating, not only in the SM Church but in the whole church in India divided on three-fold Rite-lines (but wrong) and pulling in different directions. All know it and say, it is the worst curse of the Church in India. It prevents it from acting as one united body, as one family. Here we have the Eparch of Faridabad suddenly taking on his own leader Cardinal Allenchery about Knanayas on their absurd stance. That might have been admired as an example of moral courage, were it were not for the fact that he himself is guilty of resolutely holding on to his own version of racism. Unfortunately, at a time of external crisis for the Church in India, it faces a (perhaps far greater) internal crisis of leadership within. The SM church for instance has opened itself to public ridicule by threatening to ban marriages between Catholics and others. Do they think our youth is going to quietly fall in line? Or are they in danger of making their entire church and the sacraments redundant to the next generation? On a larger scale, in what you rightly term “the musical chair for Episcopal thrones by any means”, the so called shepherds of the church have failed the community badly. They will publicly castigate the Govt for dividing the nation, while they themselves collude in dividing the Church. A fit illustration of Mathew 7:5: “first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” CAN ANY OF THE KNANAYA CRITICS CAN ANSWER A RESONABLE EXPLANATION FOR HAVING A SEPERATE SYRO MALABAR DIOCESE IN DELHI OR USA OR ANY PART OF THE WORLD WHEN THERE IS MORETHAN ENOUGH ROMAN CATHOLIC CURCHES ALREADY AVAILABLE. Please dont explalin in terms of keeping the traditions intact. Then that is what exactly knanayites are also doing. Even without having syromalabar missions, knanayites survived and they will till able to survive even in latin dioceses. Mr. James kottor should focus on flesh eating viruses in syromalabar church which can lead to immediate loss of a life instead of focussing on viruses causing small cold and couging. Those viruses will take care of itself.
Kurien Joseph (Rite Issue) wrote:
Dear Dr James Kottoor,
I compliment you for your excellent piece “Peddlers …”.
But one reaction to it – while intended to be complimentary- is the height of hypocrisy. That is the reaction of Eparch Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, who promotes and gladly presides over another equally deadly “cancer” (to use his own word) in Faridabad.
He accuses the Knanayas of “tendancies (sic) to have priests, bishops, etc only from the same tribe and caste” and of “[creating] so many dioceses as these tribes and castes”. Is he speaking of the Knanayas or of his own Syro Malabar church? Purely to create dioceses for so many ambitious prelates, SM bishops go where they are not wanted: force congregations in the US, Canada, Europe, the UK and Australia (the SM church is rarely seen rushing off to Sierra Leone or Yemen!) to accept their “services”. In so doing they create an apartheidwithin these congregations; and repel the youth that has grown up and assimilated (as they should) into the new homes in which they live.
How is the SM apartheid essentially different from the Knanaya apartheid? What teaching of Christ justifies the SM church considering itself as “aristocratic” and “the elite” (to use the phrases its own spokesmen used in the media) as against the “Latins” (whom they consider inferior)?
The Eparch laments that “if such parishes are created, they start dividing families, ousting members, even from the ecclesial community!!! As long as they are in the ‘Catholic’ parish open to all, that problem can be avoided.” So why is his SM Church “dividing families [and] ousting members” in the Church in Delhi, which has existed for more than a century? Why does it not respect his own declared concept of a “Catholic parish open to all”? Besides still officially preventing marriages between Catholics (with absolutely no spiritual, pastoral or canonical support) by forcing parents to come and bow to SM priests, the SM church has even divided children in Catechism classes! The Eparch bemoans “opposition here bec of that”. Could the real opposition be because Knanayas (like SM Catholics settled in Delhi) refuse to bow to his dictates?
Bishop Angadiath’s rightly denounced Announcement – supported wholeheartedly by the SM Cardinal – reads: “If a Knanaya Catholic belonging to a K parish/mission enters into marriage with a non-K partner, that non-K partner and children from that marriage will not become members of the K parish/mission but will remain members of the local parish/mission.” Pray, tell how is this in any way different from Eparch Kuriakose’s own “clarification” to The Statesman: “Our intention was to foster more unity and communion. Those who want to stay in the present parish, let them be. [But] One cannot think of being a “Latin” as long as one is in Delhi and an “oriental” when they are in another place. Either be an Indian or an American, you cannot be both.” Never mind that there is nothing in Canon law that the Eparch has been able to cite to support these “principles”. More importantly, however, Bishop Angadiath is saying the same thing in essence as Eparch Kuriakose: You can be what you want but you have to be out from “our” community (as though each community belongs to its bishops!).
Everything you state in your candid article, and particularly the following, applies equally to the Knanayas and the SM Church.
1) Aren’t the SMC bishops doing just the opposite of what Jesus bluntly and forcefully commanded: “What God has united, let no man separate?”
2) Its stink is suffocating, not only in the SM Church but in the whole church in India divided on three-fold Rite-lines (but wrong) and pulling in different directions. All know it and say, it is the worst curse of the Church in India. It prevents it from acting as one united body, as one family.
Here we have the Eparch of Faridabad suddenly taking on his own leader Cardinal Allenchery about Knanayas on their absurd stance. That might have been admired as an example of moral courage, were it were not for the fact that he himself is guilty of resolutely holding on to his own version of racism.
Unfortunately, at a time of external crisis for the Church in India, it faces a (perhaps far greater) internal crisis of leadership within. The SM church for instance has opened itself to public ridicule by threatening to ban marriages between Catholics and others. Do they think our youth is going to quietly fall in line? Or are they in danger of making their entire church and the sacraments redundant to the next generation? On a larger scale, in what you rightly term “the musical chair for Episcopal thrones by any means”, the so called shepherds of the church have failed the community badly. They will publicly castigate the Govt for dividing the nation, while they themselves collude in dividing the Church. A fit illustration of Mathew 7:5: “first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
With warm regards,
Dr Mathew wrote: If a Knanaya Catholic belonging to a Knanaya parish/mission enters into marriage with a non-Knanaya partner, that non-Knanaya partner and children from that marriage will not become members of the Knanaya parish/mission but will remain members of the local non-Knanaya Syro Malabar parish/mission.
This is not acceptable.The Pope should interfere immediately.It has to be decided by the laity and not by few Bishops. Dr Kottoor is right.When we think of ecumenism in the light of Vatican why the kottayam people are resisting change? There are more burning issues in this group like Sr Abaya case and the murder of Fr K J Thomas in Bangalore.The community should express its solidarity in seeking justice in these cases.
Sr.Carol MSA wrote:
I am from Kerala. Before I came to the North I never heard about this Kottayam business of Christianity history. Some 35 years back I had one Sister from Kottayam in my Community. While discussing one day this Kottayam Christianity topic came up. It was beyond my understanding ‘ why such closed Christian community exist in Indian Catholic Church. I kept on questioning that Sister in order to understand this mystery. But that Sister kept on arguing with me with such pride that she belong to this sect of original Christians; and in no way they want themselves to be polluted, and so they keep themselves pure blood relations without getting married with outside Kottayam community. It is absurd as for me I still cannot understand this. How can we call ourselves as one Body in Christ Jesus !
Joy Paul Puthussery wrote: Dear Sri James Kottoor,
It is crystal clear that words like justice, fair play, humanity equality etc. Are anathema to our bishops. From the shameful letter of Mar Alenchery etc. Is an attempt to practice tactics of divide and rule among the faithful of Catholic Church. I fully support the heroic fight of the aggrieved faithful in the matter.
Regards
Kirit Mahida wrote: Dear Mr. James
I can only say my prayers that O ! God let this deadly virus not spread and contaminate. Striking at root of Jesus’ message of all are equally the children of God. What more satanic there can be?? If these heedless bishops are allowed to head the people of God where shall we end up?
Tony Moonnu, wrote: My dear James,
I hope that peace ill be widely read. According to me every cultural entity is the extension of deep rooted self love in man and diminishes freedom and holiness. For which Jesus died on the Cross.
Hope you are keeping fine, All of a sudden I am in active ministry, as a young priest of 60 had a severe heart attack, Love to you all, Anthony Moonnupeeddikail, moonnu@jesuits.net
Larry Carney, wrote: James,
I’m complete sympathetic with you and your views. Unfortunately, I also experience a bit of a cultural barrier in communications back and forth, and have trouble fully understanding the complexities of the problem. Meanwhile, I pray and wait and trust in the Lord to fill in for what I miss or can’t do.’
LLarry Carney
John K wrote: to meThis is joke what these bishops have settled on the issue of Knanaya and non Knanaya Catholics? In Angadiathes’s letter there is nothing new he simply agreed with the old practice. I don’t think Pope Francis is aware about this letter and he got more important matters to attend other than this silly issue of Knanaya pure blood based on mythical and unproven stories.John Kunthara,jkunthara@gmail.com, April 28/15
John Dayal wrote: Dear friend James, Thanks for that hard hitting truth-telling. That is your trademark. Has always taken courage.
My own experience has been that the Lay faithful have been more hardbound in these matters than the clergy. That makes reform an uphill struggle.
And secondly, once we accept other divisions, Caste, Tribe, Rite, we lose the moral high ground to challenge some one seeking a micro niche in the guise of nurturing culture, tradition, and heritage.
But struggle we must for a genuinely catholic Catholic church in India.
God bless, John Dayal
Thomas Koovalloor wrote: Happy to know that still at your golden ages your mind is active like the mind of a young turk. Hope and pray that you could do more.
Thank you for sharing the latest article.people like you could change the world.
God Bless you.
Thomas koovalloor
Email: tjkoovalloor@live.com
Phone: 914-409-5772
Joseph Mattam, April 25/15
Joseph Mattam wrote:
Dear James,
Excellent piece; what you say is very true; it is racism of the worst kind. It should be opposed; the bishop's letter is very objectionable.
Hope some sense gets into their dull heads.
God bless you. Keep well
Joe
Bishop KuriakoseBharanikulangar wrote:
Dear Mr. Kottor
I am so pleased to see that you have noted the cancer of endogamy in certain corners of the Church.On whatever grounds – justifiable or not – in a country like India with hundreds of tribes and castes, how can one promote endogamoy? This is not only regarding families. There are tendancies to have priests, bishops, etc only from the same tribe and caste. Then we should have created so many dioceses as these tribes and castes count. In the case of Kottayam Archdiocese, there are two rellgious congregations, that recruit only "Knanaya" candidates. Where are we?
I have strongly prohibited exclusive parishes in my diocese based on endogamy. If such parishes are created, they start dividing families, ousting members, even from the ecclesial community!!! As long as they are in the "Catholic" parish open to all, that problem can be avoided. I have opposition here bec of that.
+Kuriakose, Faridabad,