Response to Joseph Pathyil

Response to “Freedom of Expression and Knanaya Society” 

I beg to differ, respectfully.

Organizers of the seminar on 1^st of April in Chaithanya were not keen to have the presence of Mar Moolakkaattu.  If what is mentioned in one of the Knanaya Viseshangal post (Click Here to read the post) is to be believed, he got himself invited.

Please consider the following:

Vatican informed them as early as in 1986 that the practice of compulsory endogamy will not be permitted in the US. (That was more than a quarter of a century ago!)

This knowledge was never made public.

In the beginning there was a decision that Knanaya Associations would purchase Community Centres, not churches.

But, lately there was intimidation, threats and persuasion (I prefer to call it economic terrorism) led by the US Knanaya VG to buy churches in cities across the length and breadth of the vast country.  Priests refused to say holy masses in Community Centres without giving any convincing reasons.  Houston (in Texas) is a classic example of such “terrorism.”

In 2009, Mar Angadiath, the diocesan head of Knanites in whole of USA - in the presence of both Mars Moolakkaattu and Pandarassery and the VG Fr. Mutholam and Fr. Mulavanal - said that the Knanites who got married to non-Knas will continue to be members of Knanaya Missions (Churches) in the country.  He further clarified, without any ambiguity that their spouses and children will also have equal status in those churches.

Now, ask Mar Moolakkatt and he would assure you that Mar Angadiath is the man in control.

But on a fine morning he announces that the men who got married to non-kna women will continue to be members of the Knanaya Chruches (he is silent about the other gender) and that his wife and children will not be members.  He did not consult any one before this announcement.  Even his deputy in Kerala and the VG in Kottayam were clueless.  Knanaya laity leaders were also in total darkness.

Why could not the Chicago Bishop and the Kottayam Archbishop come out with a joint communiqué?

And why is Mar Angadiath resorting to criminal silence although he has been informed (I am sure someone might have informed him about the development.  He is aware, unless he is deaf and blind) that he has been contradicted by someone who has no authority in his fiefdom?

Getting back to Kerala.  Why do you think Vatican object to our practice of expelling those “seasoned criminals” who dare to violate the holy practice of endogamy from US parishes?

Can you explain?  Has he not declared his allegiance to the Holy See?  How can he say that, adultery is a sin in Kaduthuruthy, but in Kidangoor you can sleep with women of your choice?  How long can they fool people?

In his speech in Chaithanya, our beloved Archbishop makes it clear that the membership of the Church and membership of the Community are two different issues.  By his argument, if I have a child who was never baptised or another child who is a professed atheist, they are both members of Knanaya Community.  What authority has he got over such members of the Community?

Why can’t he mind the affairs of the church and leave the community affairs to the members and leaders of the community.  Knanaya Community is certainly not a colony of Kottayam Archdiocese.

That was perhaps the message conveyed to the Church authorities in a loud, rude and crude manner on the April Fools day in Chaithanya.