Investigation for what?

By O J George

It was amusing reading about the Home Minister of Kerala forwarding a petition challenging the phenomenon of Catholic bishops issuing pastoral letters to their faithful.


The petition preferred by a native of Thamarasserry challenges the constitutional validity of 13 Catholic bishops, including the prelate of Thamarasserry issuing pastoral letters and edicts.

It is reported in the press that earlier a similar petition was referred to the superintendent of police, Kozhikode Rural. It seems he had conducted a preliminary inquiry and submitted the report to the higher-ups.

To me the whole thing appears to be ludicrous. What has the state government to do with directions and instructions being given by bishops to the flock?

One should learn the fact that many of the books in the New Testament are letters, called epistles, written by the disciples of Jesus Christ and St Paul. These are letters asking them how to behave, how not to do evil, how to lead a Spartan and pure life and how to be witness to the life and works of Jesus Christ.

Would any government in the present world challenge the New Testament?

Maybe, if someone challenged the constitutional propriety or such other technicalities before a court of law, that should have been understandable. I am sure, such a petition would have been dismissed in limine, without taking the case on file.

That is one issue. Another sparkling thing I read was about Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi deciding to sell off the airport at Puttaparthi, which is his own, as well as his ashram at Kodaikanal. He wants to build houses for those who lost everything in the deluge in Bihar and Asom. What a great gesture? This example should be emulated by all religious figures. Many of the religious leaders amass plenty of wealth and after their lifetime, their supporters quarrel over the properties.

The disciples of Christ were known for disposing of their properties and taking care of the poor. Whatever donation they got was treated as collective money to be used for the welfare of the have-nots.

Most of the worries would have a natural solution, if the accumulated wealth and properties are disposed of like this. But then, that is a far cry.