Week after joining BJP, Kerala priest removed from Church posts
Days after he joined the BJP, a Christian priest in Kerala was divested of all official responsibilities, with the Church ordering a probe into “various complaints” against him.
Father Shaiju Kurian, who belongs to the Malankara Orthodox Church, had joined BJP on December 30 during a Christmas celebration organised by the Pathanamthitta district committee of the party. At the time, Kurian had said that he joined the BJP after being impressed by the developmental initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As many as 47 other members of the Church had also taken BJP membership along with the priest.
After this, a section of the faithful took out a march to the diocese headquarters at Ranni in protest against the priest.
An official release from the Orthodox Church, a prominent non-Catholic segment in Kerala, said: “The Church has received some complaints from diocesan members against Fr Shaiju. The diocesan council on Friday decided to appoint a commission, which would look into the complaints in two months. Hence, Shaiju was removed from all posts including the diocesan secretary during the probe period.” He had been the secretary of the Church’s Nilackal diocese.
Days after Kurian joined BJP, another priest, Father Mathews Vazhakunnam, raised allegations of misconduct against him in a TV channel debate.
Church sources said the complaints were not of a serious nature, and that they were aware that Vazhakunnam had a pro-CPI(M) stance. During the previous LDF government in the state, he had served as a director of the state-run Minority Development Finance Corporation.
“Father Shaiju was removed from his roles not for having joined the BJP. At present, the Orthodox Church has not taken any stand on priests joining any political party. Hence, no action is being taken on his BJP membership,” official Church sources said.
The sources added that the Church did not want to officially comment on why the misconduct allegations raised by Vazhakunnam have emerged at this time.
The Church release also said it decided to seek an explanation from Vazhakunnam over why he raised allegations against Kurian in a TV channel debate instead of bringing it to the notice of the Church.
The Nilackal diocese to which Kurian belongs, comes under Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency, where BJP is betting on Christian votes. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP state president K Surendran had unsuccessfully contested from this constituency.
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