Convention Sans Bishops

Money  laundering is a crime. If one collects money and refuses to account for it (both source and application), obviously there is something to hide. Every non-profit organisation in US, as well as charitable organisations, are subject to very stringent rules and regulations, and one of those rules is accountability. So also is collecting money from the public in the name of charitable causes and then using it for the enhancement of one's luxurious lifestyle.  If any one is determined to be engaged in activities termed as money laundering, they could be declared as "persons inadmissible".

Whether the hierarchical leadership should be blocked from entering the US is the secondary issue. If they want to come to the US for personal business, especially for the weddings of Pranchiyettans' sons or daughters,   is their business, however, it becomes community's business if they also use their visits to collect money and then not explain as to how it was spent.  Hence,  accountability is the primary issue here.

Whether the Bishops want to come to the convention or not, is their problem. Speaking with numerous people in the community, I get the impression that the vast majority of the people who have registered and paid for the convention don't give two hoods as to whether the Bishops will come or not ("who cares" is the normal comment). The interesting point here is that it is the people who did not even register, and the ones who have been working overtime on the phones (24 hours, 7 days, for the last 7 months), the "spiritual group", who have been trying to compel registrants and convince them into cancelling their registration,  the ones who had been desperately trying to have this convention fail, are the ones who are shedding the crocodile tears ("muthalakkanneer") with respect to the non-participation of the Bishops.  People go to the conventions for family gathering and fun, to witness their children perform/participate in programs/competitions, to see if their grown children can find suitable matches etc.,  and they will have it whether the Bishops are there or not. If anyone has any doubt, look at the variety of programs and activities this convention organizers have arranged. I salute Tampa for organizing so much activities to provide the community a family feeling. Also, since there are so many programs geared for the youth, including the two stage shows specifically for the youth, they won't have the urge for the external extra curricular activities they engaged during the Dallas convention.

Since the Bishops don't feel at home among the "pure knas" we should encourage them to go to the Syro-Malabar convention in Atlanta, where they will be more comfortable.

To those who ask why the Bishops decided to boycott the convention, my counter question is, "Do you really care?".  The experience of the past conventions tell us that we see the Bishops during opening/closing ceremonies (they deliver hollow speeches) and holy masses. Then they disappear and don't even bother to mingle with the common folks, the ordinary knananites. They will retreat to their comfortable suites, surrounded by the Pranchiyettans.

If the KCCNA leadership wanted the Bishops so desperately, all they had to do is talk to a few "Pranhyettans" in Chicago, NY or Houston to see any of their children are getting married  before next March (when this administration's term ends) and organize the convention in that venue, right after or right before those weddings.  Since the Bishops will definitely be attending those weddings, KCCNA could "borrow"one for a day or at least for a few hours, so that we can get the blessings and guarantee our admission to heaven. Shame on KCCNA for being so unaccommodating to the Pranchyettans (and the Bishops).

For those who have been dreaming of a failed convention, following are the statistics of the two most successful conventions, based on organizational criteria,  in KCCNA history:

Toronto - 630 family registrations, under 100 single/youth registrations

San Jose - 590 family registrations, under 100 single/youth registration

So far, it is my understanding, that Tampa has over 600 family paid registration and over 150 single/youth paid registration. Now let us see how well the convention will be conducted. Based on the leadership qualities and organizational skill of Tampa association and KCCNA, we can be confident that the convention will be a grand success. However, the organizers will be well advised to be careful and mindful of some of the wolfs, the agents of destruction among us, who will do anything to catch fish in muddied water.

Sonny Poozhikkala