From The Hindu: Call to democratise Catholic Church
KLCA rejects pastoral letter by Archbishop
Says the clergy interested only in amassing wealth, maintaining power
Alleges inaction on the part of church in matters concerning the laity
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Latin Catholic Association (KLCA) has called for radical reforms to democratise the [Roman] Catholic Church and check the amassment of wealth by a section of the clergy.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, KLCA president Anto Marcelene and leader of the women’s wing Cordial Stephen rejected the pastoral letter issued by the Thiruvananthapuram Archbishop on Sunday.
—It is only when the leadership of the Church senses a crisis in the education sector that it issues a pastoral letter. They remain inert when it comes to offering assistance to fishermen families reeling under the impact of coastal erosion and contagious diseases or to ensure reservation for the Latin community,— they said.
Mr. Marcelene said the clergy had appropriated minority rights for their own benefit. —They are only interested in amassing wealth and maintaining power and authority. The laity does not benefit by the stand adopted by the Church. Believers have no say in the management and administration of institutions under the Church. Yet, they are expected to participate in agitations for minority rights.—
Mr. Marcelene accused the Archbishop of shedding crocodile tears for the deprived sections of the laity. —Poor fishermen families have to shell out hefty donations to get their children admitted to educational institutions under the Church. It is this craze for money that has driven the Church to set up shopping complexes. Foreign funds and revenue from commercial activities are not properly accounted.—
The association accused the Church leadership of commercialising both education and faith…
It seems that these same themes appear and reappear throughout history. I can imagine Bishop Hodur saying the same things in 1897, speaking to the Poles of Scranton, the poor coal miners who were told to pray, pay, and obey.
Power, authority, money, control, ties to the political machine. It is not the Church per se, but her administrators.
When you think yourself the possessor of the keys, you must keep your ego and your lusts in check. Otherwise the faithful will leave in tears once again – this time to form the Indian National Catholic Church.
Of course, we would welcome them as brothers and sisters in Christ.
