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| '''Joseph Kallarangatt''' (born 27 January 1956) is an Indian ] and ], who is the 3rd Bishop of the ]. He was ordained as a priest in 1982, later received a ] (ThD) from the ] in ], ] and was appointed as the Bishop of Palai after the resignation of Bishop Joseph Pallikaparambil in 2004. He was initially an assistant parish priest and became an theologian and seminary teacher after his ThD. Following his appointment as a bishop he was able to gain considerable influence within the hierarchy of the ], an autonomous ] of the ] and the largest Christian denomination in ]. He has been regularly appointed to participate in the conduction of various high profile ] ceremonies and duties of the Syro-Malabar Church. He was also appointed to head the ] commission for determining of the Catholic Church's stance towards ], which concluded that the practice was incompatible with the Christian faith. | |||
| '''Joseph Kallarangatt''' (born 27 January 1956) is an Indian ] and ], who is the 3rd Bishop of the ]. | |||
| Kallarangatt is involved in a number of controversies over covering up of ], providing sops to influence Syro-Malabar Christian women to have four or more children and promoting ] such as "]" and "narcotics jihad". He has also been accused of using the love and narcotics jihad controversy as a distraction from the sexual assault and corruption allegations surrounding the Church and to forge an alliance with the ], in an effort to prevent corruption investigations from agencies under the ] government. | |||
| == Early life and career == | == Early life and career == | ||
| Joseph Kallarangatt was born on 27 January 1956, in Kayyoor located in the ] of Kerala. He received his education at a Catholic ] in Palai and became an ] priest on 2 January 1982. Kallarangatt was an assistant parish priest at the ] and ] parishes until he was sent to the ] in ], ] in 1984, from where he attained a ] (ThD). Following his ThD, he became a teacher at a seminary in Vadavathoor and later the president of the Pontifical Oriental Institute of Religious Studies (Paurastya Vidyapitam), a theology institution of the ].<ref name=": |
Joseph Kallarangatt was born on 27 January 1956, in Kayyoor located in the ] of Kerala. He received his education at a Catholic ] in Palai and became an ] priest on 2 January 1982. Kallarangatt was an assistant parish priest at the ] and ] parishes until he was sent to the ] in ], ] in 1984, from where he attained a ] (ThD). Following his ThD, he became a teacher at a seminary in Vadavathoor and later the president of the Pontifical Oriental Institute of Religious Studies (Paurastya Vidyapitam), a theology institution of the ].<ref name=":22">{{Cite web|title=Bishop of Palai Diocese, Joseph Kallarangatt|url=https://www.ucanews.com/directory/bishops/bishop-kallarangatt/193|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-20|website=]}}</ref> | ||
| == Pastoral ministry == | == Pastoral ministry == | ||
| ⚫ | On 18 March 2004, Kallarangatt was appointed as the 3rd Bishop of the ], after the resignation of Bishop Joseph Pallikaparambil. His ] consecration occurred on 2 May 2004 conducted by Archbishop of Changanacherry ] and his enthronement was conducted by ] ].<ref name=": |
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| ⚫ | On 28 August 2016, Kallarangatt was sent to ], ] along with Cardinal and ] ], the head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church to adorne ] with the insignia of ]. Srampickal, a priest from Palai was appointed by ] as the bishop-elect to the newly founded diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite news|date=29 July 2016|title=Kerala's Syro-Malabar Catholics get new diocese in UK|work=]|agency=]|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/keralas-syro-malabar-catholics-get-new-diocese-uk-47263}}</ref> He was also designated to act as the co-celebrant along with former Archbishop Powathil for the ordination ceremony of ]'s appointment as the auxiliary bishop to the ]. The ceremony was held on 23 April 2017 and presided over by the Archbishop of Changanacherry, ] who acted as the principal celebrant.<ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2017-04-23|title=Mar Tharayil ordained auxiliary bishop|language=en-IN|work=]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/mar-tharayil-ordained-auxiliary-bishop/article18196184.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In early 2018, Kallarangatt headed a ] committee of the Church, which produced a report concluding that the practice of ] was incompatible with Christian beliefs. The report stated that Yoga could be practised for health benefits but to interpret results from it as spiritual benefits had far reaching and dangerous consequences.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 April 2018|title=Yoga and Christian beliefs cannot go together: Catholic Church|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/yoga-and-christian-beliefs-cannot-go-together-catholic-church-1.2719417|url-status=live|website=]|location=]|language=en}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | In early September 2018, the Church became the subject of a major controversy after a group of nuns led protests over inaction against Bishop ], accused of having raped and sexually exploited a nun multiple times over a period of 2 years. The nun was complaining to various authorities in the Church hierarchy since 2017 but it had elicited no response. She eventually lodged a police complaint against Mulakkal on 28 June 2018, the protesting nuns stated that Mulakkal had powerful supporters within the Church.<ref name=": |
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| ⚫ | On 3 February 2020, Kallarangatt presided over the consecration function for Jose Pulickal's appointment as the 4th Bishop of the ].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-02-03|title=Mar Pulickal consecrated as bishop|language=en-IN|work=]|location=]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/mar-pulickal-consecrated-as-bishop/article30729173.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In July 2021, as part of the "Year of the Family" celebrations, the Palai diocese devised a welfare scheme seeking to increase birth rates among Catholic women by offering financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month, admissions with scholarships at the Church run ] and free medical facilities for every child born after the 4th child of couples married post 2000.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-07-27|title=Pala diocese plans more sops for large families|language=en-IN|work=]|location=]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/pala-diocese-announces-more-sops-for-large-families/article35562626.ece|access-date=2021-09-24|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The announcement of the scheme by Kallarangatt caused controversy due to but he defended it, stating that he stood by the scheme and that it was announced to support large families facing financial difficulties due to the ]. He further stated that they would begin taking applications and will be able to provide benefits from August onwards.<ref name=": |
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| === |
=== 2004–2018: Rise to prominence === | ||
| ⚫ | On 18 March 2004, Kallarangatt was appointed as the 3rd Bishop of the ], after the resignation of Bishop Joseph Pallikaparambil. His ] consecration occurred on 2 May 2004 conducted by Archbishop of Changanacherry ] and his enthronement was conducted by ] ].<ref name=":22" /> Later he also received an appointed to the chairmanship of the Synodal Commission for Family, ] and Life. The ] (eparchy) of Palai has the largest concentration of Syro-Malabar Catholics in Kerala, from where Kallarangatt's clout in the Church grew considerably and he became known as an authority on ], eventually authoring 30 books on the subject.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Varma|first=Vishnu|date=2021-09-21|title=Explained: Kerala Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt and the row behind his ‘love and narcotic jihad’ theory|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-kerala-bishop-mar-joseph-kallarangatt-love-and-narcotic-jihad-theory-row-7522619/|url-status=live|website=]|language=en}}</ref> | ||
| {{Cleanup rewrite|date=September 2021}} | |||
| A remark from the bishop made on September 9, 2021, that ] girls are falling prey to ] and ] triggered a controversy in the state of ].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-09|title=Love and narcotic jihad exists in Kerala, claims Catholic Bishop|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/090921/love-and-narcotic-jihad-exists-in-kerala-claims-catholic-bishop.html|access-date=2021-09-12|website=Deccan Chronicle|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Pala Diocese comes out with explanation over 'narcotic jihad' remark|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2021/09/11/joseph-kalarangatt-pala-diocese-explanation-narcotics-jihad-remark.html|access-date=2021-09-12|website=OnManorama}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | On 28 August 2016, Kallarangatt was sent to ], ] along with Cardinal and ] ], the head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church to adorne ] with the insignia of ]. Srampickal, a priest from Palai was appointed by ] as the bishop-elect to the newly founded diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite news|date=29 July 2016|title=Kerala's Syro-Malabar Catholics get new diocese in UK|work=]|agency=]|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/keralas-syro-malabar-catholics-get-new-diocese-uk-47263}}</ref> He was also designated to act as the co-celebrant along with former Archbishop Powathil for the ordination ceremony of ]'s appointment as the auxiliary bishop to the ]. The ceremony was held on 23 April 2017 and presided over by the Archbishop of Changanacherry, ] who acted as the principal celebrant.<ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2017-04-23|title=Mar Tharayil ordained auxiliary bishop|language=en-IN|work=]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/mar-tharayil-ordained-auxiliary-bishop/article18196184.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In early 2018, Kallarangatt headed a ] committee of the Church, which produced a report concluding that the practice of ] was incompatible with Christian beliefs. The report stated that Yoga could be practised for health benefits but to interpret results from it as spiritual benefits had far reaching and dangerous consequences.<ref>{{Cite web|date=4 April 2018|title=Yoga and Christian beliefs cannot go together: Catholic Church|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/yoga-and-christian-beliefs-cannot-go-together-catholic-church-1.2719417|url-status=live|website=]|location=]|language=en}}</ref> | ||
| The remarks made by Bishop Joseph received mixed response from different corners of the society.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-13|title=War of words over ‘narcotics jihad’ rages on in Kerala|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/war-of-words-over-narcotics-jihad-rages-on-in-kerala-101631535450053.html|access-date=2021-09-16|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> ] state unit has written to home minister to provide security to the Bishop. Kerala chief minister ] said "The narcotic mafia should be seen as mafia, which is against the social fabric of the state, and religious tone should not be attributed to the mafia".<ref>{{Cite web|title=No case against Pala bishop over ‘narcotic jihad’ remarks: Pinarayi|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/sep/16/no-case-against-pala-bishop-over-narcotic-jihad-remarks-pinarayi-2359317.html|access-date=2021-09-16|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> Muslim organisations protested against the remark of the bishop by staging a march in-front of Bishop's house.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Reporter|first=Staff|date=2021-09-11|title='Narcotic jihad' row: Pala witnesses wave of protests|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/pala-witnesses-wave-of-protests/article36403443.ece|access-date=2021-09-16|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> | |||
| === 2018–2021: Controversies in the Church === | |||
| Bishop also received criticism from some other Christian churches; bishop ], a head of fourteen parishes of Jacobite Diocese of Niranam, stated that Kerala Christians face no threat and those in power should not give statements which can be used by communal forces.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Henry|first=Nikhila|date=2021-09-16|title='Kerala Christians Face No Threat': First Bishop To Deny 'Narcotics Jihad' Claim|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/kerala-christians-are-not-under-threat-a-bishop-geevarghese-mor-coorilos-takes-down-narcotics-jihad|access-date=2021-09-16|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref> Some Catholic nuns also openly criticised the remark by the Bishop and staged a walkout raising objections.<ref>https://www.thequint.com/news/india/nuns-in-kerala-stage-walkout-protesting-priests-speech-against-muslims#read-more</ref> Senior nun Teena Jose said "Worried that Christians are leaving the church, bishops in Kerala are coming up with bizarre explanations for the laity’s disinterest in faith" and said such statements do not reflect the sentiments of a majority of the Christians.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Henry|first=Nikhila|date=2021-09-14|title=‘Narcotics Jihad’: Why is a Catholic Nun Asking a Kerala Bishop to Apologise?|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/narcotics-jihad-why-a-catholic-nun-sister-teena-jose-is-asking-kerala-bishop-mar-joseph-kallarangatt-to-apologise|access-date=2021-09-16|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref> Indulekha Joseph, a lawyer and member of the Kerala Catholic Church Reformation Movement (KCRM) says that the Catholic leaders who spew hatred are opportunists and go with the politics that are beneficial for them. "The church has huge wealth and it serves their need to go with Sangh Parivar interests as they can hide all their illegal wealth accumulations," She also said that these comments are also made to divert people's attention by playing a victim card from allegations the church faces currently, including corruption and sexual offences.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-17|title=The right turn by a section of Kerala’s Catholic church is sheer opportunism|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/right-turn-section-kerala-s-catholic-church-sheer-opportunism-155406|access-date=2021-09-20|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | In early September 2018, the Church became the subject of a major controversy after a group of nuns led protests over inaction against Bishop ], accused of having raped and sexually exploited a nun multiple times over a period of 2 years. The nun was complaining to various authorities in the Church hierarchy since 2017 but it had elicited no response. She eventually lodged a police complaint against Mulakkal on 28 June 2018, the protesting nuns stated that Mulakkal had powerful supporters within the Church.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|last=Konikkara|first=Aathira|date=26 September 2018|title=He prayed like a holy man as she shed tears: Bishop Franco Mulakkal and a nun’s fight for justice|url=https://caravanmagazine.in/gender-sexuality/bishop-franco-mulakkal-kerala-nun-rape-case-protests|url-status=live|website=]|language=en}}</ref> Bishop Kallarangatt was one of the first Church authorities she had confided to back in June 2017.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2018-07-14|title=Nun complained to me: Pala bishop|language=en-IN|work=]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/nun-complained-to-me-pala-bishop/article24422306.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> During the police investigation, he was brought in for questioning and stated that the nun had only made a verbal complaint with him and not a written one.<ref name=":12" /> Mulukkal was later arrested in September 2018 and the Palai diocese extended its support for him.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=John|first=Haritha|date=2021-09-17|title=The right turn by a section of Kerala’s Catholic church is sheer opportunism|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/right-turn-section-kerala-s-catholic-church-sheer-opportunism-155406|url-status=live|website=]|language=en}}</ref> | ||
| ⚫ | On 3 February 2020, Kallarangatt presided over the consecration function for Jose Pulickal's appointment as the 4th Bishop of the ].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-02-03|title=Mar Pulickal consecrated as bishop|language=en-IN|work=]|location=]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/mar-pulickal-consecrated-as-bishop/article30729173.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In July 2021, as part of the "Year of the Family" celebrations, the Palai diocese devised a welfare scheme seeking to increase birth rates among Catholic women by offering financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month, admissions with scholarships at the Church run ] and free medical facilities for every child born after the 4th child of couples married post 2000.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-07-27|title=Pala diocese plans more sops for large families|language=en-IN|work=]|location=]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/pala-diocese-announces-more-sops-for-large-families/article35562626.ece|access-date=2021-09-24|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The announcement of the scheme by Kallarangatt caused controversy due to but he defended it, stating that he stood by the scheme and that it was announced to support large families facing financial difficulties due to the ]. He further stated that they would begin taking applications and will be able to provide benefits from August onwards.<ref name=":32">{{Cite web|date=27 July 2021|title=Catholic church in Kerala announces welfare scheme for families to have more children|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/catholic-church-in-kerala-announces-welfare-scheme-for-families-to-have-more-children-1.5862066|url-status=live|website=]|location=]|language=en}}</ref> It was criticised for ignoring large population boom in India and for going against the existent two-child norm in Kerala, the critics from within the Syro-Malabar community described it as an unethical and immoral scheme created for petty political gains and as interference in the sexual lives of married couples by unmarried clergy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Das|first=Wimal Mary|date=2021-07-27|title=Pregnancy package of Indian Catholic Church, sparks controversy|url=https://www.laity4justice.com/post/pregnancy-package-of-indian-catholic-church-sparks-controversy-in-india|url-status=live|website=SMGLJT|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=28 July 2021|title=Indian bishop's promotion of large families sparks controversy|url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/indian-bishops-promotion-of-large-families-sparks-controversy/93486|url-status=live|website=]|language=en}}</ref> The scheme of the Palai Bishop was followed by an announcement from the Church that extended free of cost ] care to women giving birth to their fourth child in Church run hospitals, and scholarships for the fourth and subsequent children of families who get admitted at Church run engineering colleges.<ref name=":32" /> | ||
| The remark by Bishop also received support from organisations including ] (KCBC) and from some political parties.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-12|title=Church, BJP back Kerala bishop’s ‘narcotics jihad’ remarks, say he is speaking community’s concern|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/church-bjp-back-kerala-bishops-narcotics-jihad-remarks-say-he-is-speaking-communitys-concern-7503458/|access-date=2021-09-16|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> In a statement, the ] (KCBC) on Saturday said the bishop's words were not aimed at any community and he was sharing the community's concerns. It should not be made controversial and should instead be debated with seriousness, it said.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-12|title=Church, BJP back Kerala bishop’s ‘narcotics jihad’ remarks, say he is speaking community’s concern|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/church-bjp-back-kerala-bishops-narcotics-jihad-remarks-say-he-is-speaking-communitys-concern-7503458/|access-date=2021-09-15|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> The ruling party ] alleged that ] is communally exploiting the issue.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-15|title=BJP trying to communally exploit issue: CPI(M) on 'narcotic jihad' row in Kerala|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/bjp-trying-communally-exploit-issue-cpim-narcotic-jihad-row-kerala-155300|access-date=2021-09-16|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| === 2021 Love and narcotics jihad controversy === | |||
| Ruling Party ]'s ally ] extendd support to bishop.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-13|title=CPM ally Kerala Congress (M) extends support to bishop|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cpm-ally-kerala-congress-m-extends-support-to-bishop-7504788/|access-date=2021-09-15|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| On 10 September 2021, Bishop Kallarangatt sparked a major controversy during a sermon at ], when he claimed that the ] of "]" was real and that there was also a "narcotics jihad" targeting youths as a means of indirect war to annihilate the non-Muslim population. He described "narcotics jihad" as being evident everywhere from ]<nowiki/>s, juice corners, ] and hotels where youths were trapped into drug addiction and their lives spoilt.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 September 2021|title=Kerala bishop claims Muslims have launched ‘narcotics jihad’, faces criticism|url=https://scroll.in/latest/1005116/muslims-are-getting-others-addicted-to-drugs-claims-kerala-bishop-calls-it-narcotic-jihad|url-status=live|website=]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Philip|first=Shaju|date=2021-09-10|title=Non-Muslims are targets of ‘narcotic jihad’: Kerala bishop|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/non-muslims-are-targets-of-narcotic-jihad-kerala-bishop-7499908/|url-status=live|website=]|language=en}}</ref> The remarks attracted immediate and widespread condemnation from within the Christian community.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Krishnakumar|first=R.|date=8 October 2021|title=Pulpit polemics: Bishop’s homily on ‘narcotic jehad’ catches Kerala by surprise|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/communalism/pulpit-polemics/article36535496.ece|url-status=live|website=]|publisher=]|language=en}}</ref> Representatives of the non-Catholic denominations were more vocal in their opposition though there were responses of disapproval from the other autonomous ] and the Roman Catholic Church in India as well.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Dayal|first=John|date=17 September 2021|title=Internally bleeding Indian church too weak to face challenges|url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/internally-bleeding-indian-church-too-weak-to-face-challenges/94177|url-status=live|website=]|language=en}}</ref> ] ] of the ] denomination and Metropolitan Bishop ] of the ] denomination, both part of ] expressed the strongest condemnations stating that Kallarangatt had fallen into the design of the ] and was creating divisions among minorities with conspiracy theories at a time of growing ] in India which threatened all of them.<ref name=":5" /> Metropolitan ], the head of the ] denomination also openly derided Kallarangatt for attempting to aggravate communal divisions in Kerala.<ref name=":6" /> | |||
| From within the Syro-Malabar Church, the former spokesman of the Synod, Father Paul Thelakkat criticised Kallarangatt for having a ] view of Christian women stating that the majority of medical nurses providing brave service were Christian women while "he sees them as easy prey to any sinister gang and goon" and admonished him for going against ]'s efforts to improve relations with other religious communities.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Raghunath|first=Arjun|date=2021-09-16|title=BJP's efforts to cash in on 'narcotic jihad' row in Kerala suffers setback|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/bjps-efforts-to-cash-in-on-narcotic-jihad-row-in-kerala-suffers-setback-1031117.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-26|website=]|language=en}}</ref> Nuns affiliated to the Church held a ] protest against ] by Kallanragatt and his supporters, after another priest endorsed him and called for economic boycott of Muslims.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-13|title=Nuns in Kerala Stage Walkout Protesting Priest’s Speech Against Muslims|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/nuns-kerala-stage-walkout-protesting-priests-speech-against-muslims-155210#:~:text=The%20News%20Minute-,Nuns%20in%20Kerala%20stage%20walkout%20protesting%20priest's%20speech%20against%20Muslims,Franco%20in%20a%20rape%20case.&text=The%20nuns%20are%20Anupama%20Kelamangalathuveliyil,Ancitta%20Urumbil%20and%20Josephine%20Viloonickal.|url-status=live|website=]|language=en}}</ref> Senior Nun ] demanded Kallrangatt to apologise, accusing him of playing immoral politics and not practising Christ's ]. According to her, Christians are moving away from religion while the bishop is abusing the trust of the religious laity with bizarre explanations rather than trying to bring the ] back to the faith and using it to strengthening an extremist faction of clergy within the Church and dishonestly trying to realign it with the ] to meet their own ends. The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church was aligned with the ] in its opposition to the ].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Henry|first=Nikhila|date=2021-09-14|title=‘Narcotics Jihad’: Why is a Catholic Nun Asking a Kerala Bishop to Apologise?|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/narcotics-jihad-why-a-catholic-nun-sister-teena-jose-is-asking-kerala-bishop-mar-joseph-kallarangatt-to-apologise|url-status=live|website=]|language=en}}</ref> The Catholic oriented Joint Christian Council (JCC) and the Kerala Catholic Reformation Movement (KCRM) criticised Kallarangatt on similar lines, raising concerns that the controversy was purposeful to distract from the sexual assault and corruption allegations surrounding the Church's top leadership and created to forge an alliance with the Sangh Parivar in exchange for warding off investigations from agencies of the Narendra Modi government.<ref name=":4" /> | |||
| A mass rally was conducted by various Christian organizations and BJP activists in Pala on 2021-09-11, to declare solidarity with the Pala bishop in narcotic jihad issue, where Kerala Congress (M) leader Nirmala Jimmy, ] former district president Noble Mathew, N Hari, and various others participated in the meeting.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-12|title=Narcotic jihad row: Thousands rally behind Bishop Kallarangatt in Pala|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2021/sep/12/narcotic-jihad-row-thousandsrally-behind-bishop-kallarangatt-in-pala-2357486.html|access-date=2021-09-15|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-11|title=ബിഷപ്പ് മാർ കല്ലറങ്ങാട്ടിന് ഐക്യദാർഢ്യവുമായി കാസ റാലി|url=https://www.deepika.com/backup/News_Cat2_sub.aspx?catcode=cat2&newscode=602188|access-date=2021-09-15|website=deepika.com|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| There were also strong condemnations from Muslim organisations who stated that such remarks coming from a bishop was unexpected; criticisms of his statement were made that described it as promoting ] against Muslims among Christians and involved varied demands for retraction, apologies, evidence and clarifications.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=10 September 2021|title=Kerala Bishop Says Non-Muslims Are Targets of Organised 'Narcotic Jihad', Draws Flak|url=https://thewire.in/communalism/kerala-bishop-says-non-muslims-are-targets-of-organised-narcotic-jihad-draws-flak|url-status=live|website=]}}</ref> Some of them organised a protest march in Palai to the Bishop's House demanding legal action against him, it saw the participation of 200 people. It led to a counter protest by supporters of the bishop along with the involvement of several local politicians. Both the marches were broken off by the police and participants charged for violation of ].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=2021-09-11|title='Narcotic jihad' row: Pala witnesses wave of protests|language=en-IN|work=]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/pala-witnesses-wave-of-protests/article36403443.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The ] proponent right wing Bharatiya Janata Party extended its full support to the bishop claiming that he was revealing the "truth" of a widespread conspiracy that everyone else was trying to hide, several senior state functionaries of the party visited him at his residence after the protests. Joseph Perumthottam, the Archbishop of his ecclesiastical province, Changanacherry had also granted his support to Kallarangatt. He endorsed the bishop through an article in the Church controlled newspaper '']''. The ] (KCBC) in which Kallarangatt and Perumthottam held influential positions released a statement declaring that it stood by the bishop.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-09-13|title=More come in support for Pala Bishop|language=en-IN|work=]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/more-come-in-support-for-bishop/article36437320.ece|access-date=2021-09-26|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The JCC stated that the two clashing protest marches could have led to a riot,<ref name=":4" /> and held a protest of their own demanded Kallarangatt to release a apology and raised concerns that the Changanacherry lobby was hijacking the Church.<ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2021-09-25|title=Joint Christian Council stages protest|language=en-IN|work=]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/joint-christian-council-stages-protest/article36673413.ece|access-date=2021-09-26|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> | |||
| G.Sukumaran Nair, general secretary of ] (NSS) came up with a statement expressing concern over the forced conversion of girls. “That the terrorist activity of forced religious conversion of girls using the weapon of love or other means is indeed a matter of concern. The State and Union governments have the responsibility to find out and quell such elements,” read the statement.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-13|title=More come in support for Pala Bishop|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/more-come-in-support-for-bishop/article36437320.ece|access-date=2021-09-15|website=The Hindu|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| The Pala diocese issued a clarification stating that the bishop did not imply that all Muslims were doing so but only a small minority of extremists who were true believers. The same message was reiterated in communications from the KCBC and Archbishop Perumthottam.<ref name=":2" /> The chairman of the Syro-Malabar based ], a member party of the ], the communist led ruling coalition in Kerala also extended his support, criticising opponents of the bishop and accusing them of misrepresenting the bishop's statement.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Philip|first=Shaju|date=2021-09-13|title=CPM ally Kerala Congress (M) extends support to bishop|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cpm-ally-kerala-congress-m-extends-support-to-bishop-7504788/|url-status=live|website=]|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| The Bishop's remarks were condemned by Kerala CM ] who said that it is the Central Government which had admitted in the Parliament that love jihad doesn't exist in Kerala.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan condemns narcotic jihad remark|website=Deccan Herald|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/kerala-cm-pinarayi-vijayan-condemns-narcotic-jihad-remark-1032904.html}}</ref> | |||
| The ], ], a member of the ], the largest party in the Left Democratic Front stated that it was the first time he was hearing about such a thing as "narcotics jihad" and that Kallarangatt being a influential and learned man should think before speaking and remember his civil obligation of not creating divisions in society, an obligation which all religious leaders have.<ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2021-09-10|title=Spiritual leaders should be cautious against their words causing discordance: Pinarayi Vjayan|language=en-IN|work=]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/spiritual-leaders-should-be-cautious-against-their-words-causing-discordance-pinarayi-vjayan/article36396787.ece|access-date=2021-09-26|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In addition, he stated drug trafficking and consumption of narcotics were are a serious criminal and social issue respectively but could not be tied to religious affiliations, and that allegations of "narcotics jihad" and "love jihad" were delusional with no evidential support, citing data on interfaith marriages and on suspects and convicts in narcotics cases whose affiliations did not have any unusual ratios and reflected the general distribution of religious identities in the population of the state.<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 September 2021|title=Kerala CM cites data to refute claims linking religion to ‘narcotics, love jihad’|url=https://scroll.in/latest/1006023/kerala-cm-cites-data-to-refute-claims-linking-religion-to-narcotics-love-jihad|url-status=live|website=]|language=en-US}}</ref> Responding to demands of legal action, he stated that the the government will not initiate any as the bishop was within his rights to address his sermon's attendees and because he did not intend to cause any communal enmity.<ref name=":1" /> | |||
| {{Gallery | |||
| | title = Photos related to Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt | |||
| | File:Syro Malabar Church's statement in solidarity with Father Kallarangad - Page 1.jpg | |||
| | Syro Malabar Church's statement in solidarity with Father Kallarangad - Page 1 | |||
| | File:Syro Malabar Church's statement in solidarity with Father Kallarangad - Page 2.jpg | |||
| | Syro Malabar Church's statement in solidarity with Father Kallarangad - Page 2 | |||
| | File:Mathruvedi leadership of the Diocese of Pala with Mar Joseph Kallarangad.jpg | |||
| | Mathruvedi leadership of the Diocese of Pala with Mar Joseph Kallarangad. | |||
| | File:Fathers of the Diocese of Idukki with Mar Joseph Kallarangad.jpg | |||
| | Fathers of the Diocese of Idukki with Mar Joseph Kallarangad | |||
| | File:Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Athanasios of the Malankara Orthodox Kandanadu East Diocese and Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Nicholas of the Northeast of the United States of America with Bishop Kallarangaatt.jpg | |||
| | Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Athanasios of the Malankara Orthodox Kandanadu East Diocese and Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Nicholas of the Northeast of the United States of America with Bishop Joseph Kallarangaatt | |||
| | File:Vicar Generals of the Diocese of Kanjirapally, Forona Vicars, and Directors of Departments at the Pala Bishop's House.jpg | |||
| | Vicar Generals of the Diocese of Kanjirapally, Vicars of Forane, and Directors of Departments at the Pala Bishop's House | |||
| | File:Fathers of the Archdiocese of Changanassery at the Pala Bishop's House in support of Pala Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt.jpg | |||
| | Fathers of the Archdiocese of Changanassery at the Pala Bishop's House in support of Pala Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt | |||
| }} | |||
| == References== | == References== | ||
Revision as of 20:50, 26 September 2021
| Mar Joseph Kallarangatt | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Palai | |
 | |
| Diocese | Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai |
| See | Palai |
| Predecessor | Joseph Pallikaparampil |
| Successor | Incumbent |
| Other post(s) | Chairman of Syro-Malabar Synodal Commission for Family, Laity and Life |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 2 January 1982 |
| Consecration | 2 May 2004 by Joseph Powathil |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1956-01-27) 27 January 1956 (age 68) Kayyoor, Kottayam District, Kerala, India |
| Nationality | India |
| Denomination | Syro-Malabar Catholic Church |
| Alma mater | Gregorian University, Rome |
Joseph Kallarangatt (born 27 January 1956) is an Indian Catholic prelate and theologian, who is the 3rd Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai. He was ordained as a priest in 1982, later received a doctorate in theology (ThD) from the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy and was appointed as the Bishop of Palai after the resignation of Bishop Joseph Pallikaparambil in 2004. He was initially an assistant parish priest and became an theologian and seminary teacher after his ThD. Following his appointment as a bishop he was able to gain considerable influence within the hierarchy of the Syro-Malabar Church, an autonomous particular church of the Roman Catholic Church and the largest Christian denomination in Kerala. He has been regularly appointed to participate in the conduction of various high profile ecclesiastical ceremonies and duties of the Syro-Malabar Church. He was also appointed to head the doctrinal commission for determining of the Catholic Church's stance towards Yoga, which concluded that the practice was incompatible with the Christian faith.
Kallarangatt is involved in a number of controversies over covering up of sexual assault allegations in the Church, providing sops to influence Syro-Malabar Christian women to have four or more children and promoting conspiracy theories such as "love jihad" and "narcotics jihad". He has also been accused of using the love and narcotics jihad controversy as a distraction from the sexual assault and corruption allegations surrounding the Church and to forge an alliance with the Hindutva movement in India, in an effort to prevent corruption investigations from agencies under the Narendra Modi government.
Early life and career
Joseph Kallarangatt was born on 27 January 1956, in Kayyoor located in the Kottayam district of Kerala. He received his education at a Catholic seminary in Palai and became an ordained priest on 2 January 1982. Kallarangatt was an assistant parish priest at the Aruvithura and Ramapuram parishes until he was sent to the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy in 1984, from where he attained a doctorate in theology (ThD). Following his ThD, he became a teacher at a seminary in Vadavathoor and later the president of the Pontifical Oriental Institute of Religious Studies (Paurastya Vidyapitam), a theology institution of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.
Pastoral ministry
2004–2018: Rise to prominence
On 18 March 2004, Kallarangatt was appointed as the 3rd Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai, after the resignation of Bishop Joseph Pallikaparambil. His episcopal consecration occurred on 2 May 2004 conducted by Archbishop of Changanacherry Joseph Powathil and his enthronement was conducted by Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil. Later he also received an appointed to the chairmanship of the Synodal Commission for Family, Laity and Life. The diocese (eparchy) of Palai has the largest concentration of Syro-Malabar Catholics in Kerala, from where Kallarangatt's clout in the Church grew considerably and he became known as an authority on theology, eventually authoring 30 books on the subject.
On 28 August 2016, Kallarangatt was sent to Preston, United Kingdom along with Cardinal and Major Archbishop George Alencherry, the head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church to adorne Joseph Srampickal with the insignia of Episcopacy. Srampickal, a priest from Palai was appointed by Pope Francis as the bishop-elect to the newly founded diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church in the United Kingdom. He was also designated to act as the co-celebrant along with former Archbishop Powathil for the ordination ceremony of Thomas Tharayil's appointment as the auxiliary bishop to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanacherry. The ceremony was held on 23 April 2017 and presided over by the Archbishop of Changanacherry, Joseph Perumthottam who acted as the principal celebrant. In early 2018, Kallarangatt headed a doctrinal committee of the Church, which produced a report concluding that the practice of Yoga was incompatible with Christian beliefs. The report stated that Yoga could be practised for health benefits but to interpret results from it as spiritual benefits had far reaching and dangerous consequences.
2018–2021: Controversies in the Church
In early September 2018, the Church became the subject of a major controversy after a group of nuns led protests over inaction against Bishop Franco Mulakkal, accused of having raped and sexually exploited a nun multiple times over a period of 2 years. The nun was complaining to various authorities in the Church hierarchy since 2017 but it had elicited no response. She eventually lodged a police complaint against Mulakkal on 28 June 2018, the protesting nuns stated that Mulakkal had powerful supporters within the Church. Bishop Kallarangatt was one of the first Church authorities she had confided to back in June 2017. During the police investigation, he was brought in for questioning and stated that the nun had only made a verbal complaint with him and not a written one. Mulukkal was later arrested in September 2018 and the Palai diocese extended its support for him.
On 3 February 2020, Kallarangatt presided over the consecration function for Jose Pulickal's appointment as the 4th Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kanjirappally. In July 2021, as part of the "Year of the Family" celebrations, the Palai diocese devised a welfare scheme seeking to increase birth rates among Catholic women by offering financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month, admissions with scholarships at the Church run St. Joseph's College of Engineering and Technology, Palai and free medical facilities for every child born after the 4th child of couples married post 2000. The announcement of the scheme by Kallarangatt caused controversy due to but he defended it, stating that he stood by the scheme and that it was announced to support large families facing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He further stated that they would begin taking applications and will be able to provide benefits from August onwards. It was criticised for ignoring large population boom in India and for going against the existent two-child norm in Kerala, the critics from within the Syro-Malabar community described it as an unethical and immoral scheme created for petty political gains and as interference in the sexual lives of married couples by unmarried clergy. The scheme of the Palai Bishop was followed by an announcement from the Church that extended free of cost neonatal care to women giving birth to their fourth child in Church run hospitals, and scholarships for the fourth and subsequent children of families who get admitted at Church run engineering colleges.
2021 Love and narcotics jihad controversy
On 10 September 2021, Bishop Kallarangatt sparked a major controversy during a sermon at Kuravilangad Church, when he claimed that the conspiracy theory of "love jihad" was real and that there was also a "narcotics jihad" targeting youths as a means of indirect war to annihilate the non-Muslim population. He described "narcotics jihad" as being evident everywhere from ice cream parlours, juice corners, rave parties and hotels where youths were trapped into drug addiction and their lives spoilt. The remarks attracted immediate and widespread condemnation from within the Christian community. Representatives of the non-Catholic denominations were more vocal in their opposition though there were responses of disapproval from the other autonomous Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic Church in India as well. Metropolitan Bishop Yuhanon Mor Meletius of the Jacobite Christian denomination and Metropolitan Bishop Coorilose Geevarghese of the Orthodox Christian denomination, both part of Oriental Orthodoxy expressed the strongest condemnations stating that Kallarangatt had fallen into the design of the Sangh Parivar and was creating divisions among minorities with conspiracy theories at a time of growing fascism in India which threatened all of them. Metropolitan Theodosius Mar Thoma, the head of the Saint Thomas Christian denomination also openly derided Kallarangatt for attempting to aggravate communal divisions in Kerala.
From within the Syro-Malabar Church, the former spokesman of the Synod, Father Paul Thelakkat criticised Kallarangatt for having a prejudiced view of Christian women stating that the majority of medical nurses providing brave service were Christian women while "he sees them as easy prey to any sinister gang and goon" and admonished him for going against Pope Francis's efforts to improve relations with other religious communities. Nuns affiliated to the Church held a walkout protest against hate speech by Kallanragatt and his supporters, after another priest endorsed him and called for economic boycott of Muslims. Senior Nun Teena Jose demanded Kallrangatt to apologise, accusing him of playing immoral politics and not practising Christ's commandment of love. According to her, Christians are moving away from religion while the bishop is abusing the trust of the religious laity with bizarre explanations rather than trying to bring the irreligious back to the faith and using it to strengthening an extremist faction of clergy within the Church and dishonestly trying to realign it with the Bharatiya Janata Party to meet their own ends. The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church was aligned with the Congress party in its opposition to the Communists in the state. The Catholic oriented Joint Christian Council (JCC) and the Kerala Catholic Reformation Movement (KCRM) criticised Kallarangatt on similar lines, raising concerns that the controversy was purposeful to distract from the sexual assault and corruption allegations surrounding the Church's top leadership and created to forge an alliance with the Sangh Parivar in exchange for warding off investigations from agencies of the Narendra Modi government.
There were also strong condemnations from Muslim organisations who stated that such remarks coming from a bishop was unexpected; criticisms of his statement were made that described it as promoting prejudice against Muslims among Christians and involved varied demands for retraction, apologies, evidence and clarifications. Some of them organised a protest march in Palai to the Bishop's House demanding legal action against him, it saw the participation of 200 people. It led to a counter protest by supporters of the bishop along with the involvement of several local politicians. Both the marches were broken off by the police and participants charged for violation of COVID-19 protocols. The Hindutva proponent right wing Bharatiya Janata Party extended its full support to the bishop claiming that he was revealing the "truth" of a widespread conspiracy that everyone else was trying to hide, several senior state functionaries of the party visited him at his residence after the protests. Joseph Perumthottam, the Archbishop of his ecclesiastical province, Changanacherry had also granted his support to Kallarangatt. He endorsed the bishop through an article in the Church controlled newspaper Deepika. The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC) in which Kallarangatt and Perumthottam held influential positions released a statement declaring that it stood by the bishop. The JCC stated that the two clashing protest marches could have led to a riot, and held a protest of their own demanded Kallarangatt to release a apology and raised concerns that the Changanacherry lobby was hijacking the Church.
The Pala diocese issued a clarification stating that the bishop did not imply that all Muslims were doing so but only a small minority of extremists who were true believers. The same message was reiterated in communications from the KCBC and Archbishop Perumthottam. The chairman of the Syro-Malabar based Kerala Congress (M), a member party of the Left Democratic Front, the communist led ruling coalition in Kerala also extended his support, criticising opponents of the bishop and accusing them of misrepresenting the bishop's statement.
The Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the largest party in the Left Democratic Front stated that it was the first time he was hearing about such a thing as "narcotics jihad" and that Kallarangatt being a influential and learned man should think before speaking and remember his civil obligation of not creating divisions in society, an obligation which all religious leaders have. In addition, he stated drug trafficking and consumption of narcotics were are a serious criminal and social issue respectively but could not be tied to religious affiliations, and that allegations of "narcotics jihad" and "love jihad" were delusional with no evidential support, citing data on interfaith marriages and on suspects and convicts in narcotics cases whose affiliations did not have any unusual ratios and reflected the general distribution of religious identities in the population of the state. Responding to demands of legal action, he stated that the the government will not initiate any as the bishop was within his rights to address his sermon's attendees and because he did not intend to cause any communal enmity.
References
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Varma, Vishnu (21 September 2021). "Explained: Kerala Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt and the row behind his 'love and narcotic jihad' theory". The Indian Express.
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Konikkara, Aathira (26 September 2018). "He prayed like a holy man as she shed tears: Bishop Franco Mulakkal and a nun's fight for justice". The Caravan.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Nun complained to me: Pala bishop". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 14 July 2018. ISSN 0971-751X.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ John, Haritha (17 September 2021). "The right turn by a section of Kerala's Catholic church is sheer opportunism". The News Minute.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "Mar Pulickal consecrated as bishop". The Hindu. Kottayam. 3 February 2020. ISSN 0971-751X.
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- ^ "Catholic church in Kerala announces welfare scheme for families to have more children". Mathrubhumi. Kottayam. 27 July 2021.
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "Kerala bishop claims Muslims have launched 'narcotics jihad', faces criticism". Scroll.in. 10 September 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - Philip, Shaju (10 September 2021). "Non-Muslims are targets of 'narcotic jihad': Kerala bishop". The Indian Express.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Krishnakumar, R. (8 October 2021). "Pulpit polemics: Bishop's homily on 'narcotic jehad' catches Kerala by surprise". Frontline. The Hindu Group.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Dayal, John (17 September 2021). "Internally bleeding Indian church too weak to face challenges". Union of Catholic Asian News.
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