Christian priest within the diocese of Idukki in Kerala suspended for being related to BJP
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Hours after a Catholic Christian priest joined the BJP on 2nd October (Monday), the Bishop of Idukki Mar John Nellikunnel suspended the priest from pastoral duties in Mankuva church, Kerala. The non secular physique claimed that the suspension was short-term as additional motion in opposition to the priest can be taken later.
FLASH: The Diocese of Idukki has taken motion in opposition to Catholic priest Fr. Kuriakkose Mattam for his affiliation with the BJP.
In response to his BJP membership, the diocese issued a press launch saying his short-term suspension from his function as vicar of Mankuva church.…
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) October 3, 2023
A press launch issued by the diocese on Monday evening acknowledged, “Fr Kuriakose Mattam has been removed, temporarily, from the post of vicar (priest) of Mankuva church.” It is vital to notice {that a} diocese refers to an space that accommodates a variety of church buildings, for which a bishop is accountable. Simply put, dicose is the territorial jurisdiction of a bishop.
The chairman of the media fee of the Idukki diocese Fr. Jins Karakkat acknowledged that the priest joined the BJP with out the permission of the bishop. Fr. Karakkat mentioned, “As per the canon law and the Catholic Church rules priests cannot join any political party.”
Earlier, the bishop of the diocese, beneath the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, had convened an emergency assembly after it it discovered that one among their clergymen had defied church guidelines and brought membership in a political get together. As per media experiences, the bishop will appoint a fee to inquire concerning the incident.
Regarding this, media head Fr. Karakkatt added, “Commission members will collect details from the priest and parish members. After the commission submits its report, the Church will take further steps.”
The improvement comes after a Catholic priest of the Syro-Malabar Church formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday. Reportedly, in a historic first, 73-year-old Fr. Kuriakose Mattam, the vicar of St. Thomas Church in Mankuva which comes beneath the jurisdiction of Idukki diocese, took the first membership of the BJP on 2nd October.
The priest Mattam acquired his get together membership from KS Aji who’s the president of BJP’s Idukki district unit. Aji additionally shared images from the occasion on his social media platforms.
BJP district president Aji mentioned, ‘‘As a part of the membership marketing campaign, we contacted the priest and the priest sought to hitch and work for the get together. The becoming a member of of Fr. Mattam signifies that the Christian sympathy is with BJP.”
Wearing a saffron scarf, Fr Mattam asserted that he doesn’t assume BJP was an anti-Christian get together. He added that the BJP has by no means been out of bounds for the Christians of Kerala.
Regarding his determination to hitch the BJP, he mentioned, “It is essential for our times that people of all faiths should come together. I hope to get more opportunities to work together.”
Before the church suspended him, Fr Mattam had been serving because the parish priest of St Thomas Church, Mankuva for the final three years and he had two extra years till retirement.
