Kerala: More details emerge on bishop’s suspension

December 02, 2008

Indian journalist Ignatius Gonsalves has brought to light additional details surrounding the October suspension of Bishop John Thattumkal, a Latin-rite bishop in India’s Eastern Catholic stronghold of Kerala. The bishop was suspended following the adoption of a 26-year-old woman as his daughter.

The Cochin bishop, according to Gonsalves, had been hailed for his leadership for the initiatives he undertook during his diocese’s 450th anniversary in 2007. Gonzales believes the diocese was one of the best managed in Kerala and "probably the only diocese in India that has a human resource department and an excellence program." In September, the bishop issued a pastoral letter focusing on spiritual growth and acted decisively to end financial irregularities in his clergy, sacking many members of his chancery staff.

In an October 1 meeting with priests, the bishop announced twice-weekly fasting for members of his chancery staff. Asked how he uncovered diocesan financial mismanagement, he shocked the assembled priests by introducing his newly adopted daughter, who had been the foster daughter of a suspended Syrian Orthodox priest. The suspended priest had told the bishop that the woman had "great spiritual and prophetic powers," and the bishop told his priests God has a "special plan" for her-- "as described," Gonzales writes, "about a virgin in the Book of Revelation (Chapter 12)."

 

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Further information:

• Commentary: Bishop’s Suspension Calls Church To Set Priorities (UCAN)
• Lay leaders defend suspended bishop (CWN, Oct. 30)
• Team formed to probe suspended bishop (CWN, Oct. 28)