My family established its auctioneering business in 1858. It lasted for about 120 years. The Sunday morning auctions were a major source of interest and entertainment. When a bid was nearing completion the hammer would be raised with the solemn intonation “Going, going, gone”. The bid was closed, as an auction cannot go on indefinitely. It necessitates closure. Unfortunately, particularly in the Catholic Church in India, we do not see “closure” of various developments.
In sports, of which I am fond, there is a saying, “Why is he quitting?”, referring to a player in his prime. The converse quip is, “Why hasn’t he quit yet?”, a reference to a player who has exceeded his time at the crease, or in consumer parlance, whose “best before” date has been exceeded.
These thoughts came to me in the wake of the pathetic servility and docility shown by the prelates of various Churches at the now infamous Christmas Luncheon hosted by our Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi this Christmas Day. In my previous article “Post Merriment Post Mortem” I had already questioned the servile behaviour of our prelates led by Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai. I wonder if the PM knew that the previous day was the Cardinal’s 79th birthday?
What a faux pas for the omniscient PM, who perhaps was not filled in on this. Otherwise we would have had another spectacle, of the Cardinal’s birthday overshadowing that of the Lord Jesus! Fortunately, we were spared those blushes.
At the recent fall from grace (pun intended) of Cardinal George Alencherry and Abp Andrews Thazhath of Ernakulam-Angalmady archdiocese, I had written an article “Another wicket (d) down” I had anticipated that the next wicket to fall would be that of Gracias.
I have no angst against him. I met him just once a few years ago when the Bombay Catholic Sabha had invited me to speak on the state of the community in the country. The cardinal had listened patiently through my hour long presentation.
But a series of events, culminating in the Christmas Luncheon, was the last straw on the camel’s back. High profile persons cannot decline a high profile invitation. But surely there was no need to bend over backwards or make obsequious statements praising the PM; which is what Gracias did.
I had written about this in my previous article aforementioned. At the time, as far as we know, only Abp Peter Machado of Bangalore had the guts to question their obsequiousness and silence on the repeated attacks on Christians and their institutions. Add to that the pathetic state of the community in Manipur.
Ah Manipur! Shortly after the tragic events of May 2023, Gracias went on record to state that this was an ethnic conflict, not a religious one. His statement was lapped up by the Godi media. It was contrary to the ground realities as propounded by the then archbishop of Imphal, Dominic Lumon. Is Gracias then a BJP agent, a sympathiser, or someone who values profit over being a prophet?
Gracias’ ungracious act unleashed a backlash across the country; especially in Kerala, from where most of the luncheon invitees came. It subsequently prompted three crusaders for justice, Jesuits Cedric Prakash and Prakash Louis, and lay leader Dr John Dayal to launch an online campaign “not in my name”.
Within a couple of days it attracted over 3000 signatures, my humble one included. We docile Catholics seldom speak out against injustice in the Church itself, though we are all Don Quixotes when it comes tilting at the BJP windmills. This is just the tip of the iceberg, of the angst and frustration among thinking Catholics. Gracias would know that only a fraction of an iceberg is visible above the waterline. Its submarine expanse is far greater. So 3000 signatures in 3 days is like an iceberg adrift in the vast ocean.
Once an iceberg is adrift its motion cannot be reined in. It will destroy whatever comes in its path. The makers of the Titanic claimed that the ship was unsinkable. It would have been unthinkable at its launch that a few days later the ship’s band would be playing “Nearer my God to Thee”.
In Garcias’ case, the Luncheon was not an isolated incident, to be overlooked. In the past he has not exactly covered himself with glory. Things came to a head in August 2020 when he spoke to Bp K.A. William of Mysore, since removed. He kept asking William if the line was safe, before suggesting to him that he get his paternity test, as directed by Cardinal Tagle of Propaganda Fide, done at a safe haven like St John’s Medical College, Bangalore, where some things could be “managed”. William would then emerge as a martyr and hero.
In the same telephonic conversation Gracias seems to suggest that he had also tried saving rape accused Bp Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar, but the latter didn’t heed his advice. Besides, Gracias ensured that his namesake, Bp Agnelo Gracias, was made the Administrator of Jalandhar diocese; during whose tenure Franco was feted and garlanded on getting bail from court.
At that time I had discreetly written to the Cardinal, warning him that if his telephonic conversation with William went public, all hell would break loose. I had no intention of defaming him. However, the audio tape was subsequently leaked to a TV channel in Rome, forcing the Cardinal to issue a video clarification that did not cut much ice with the public. Some local groups, that include retired Justice Michael Saldanha, even accuse him of a cover up of a clerical paedophilia case and dubious land dealings.
It is not my intention to accuse the Cardinal. But if an individual becomes a liability to the community, no matter how good his previous record, then it is time for the auctioneer’s hammer to come down “Going, going, gone”.
As mentioned herein above, Gracias is now 79 years old. As a cancer survivor the physical strain on him is obvious. As per the Catholic Directory of India 2013 that I have, there are 523,458 Catholics in his archdiocese, second only to the 571,334 in Ernakulam-Angalmady archdiocese, another one entangled in controversy. Gracias is perceived as the leading Catholic prelate of India. He is also one of the nine advisors to Pope Francis. Hence his actions directly affect the image of the Pope, who is otherwise greatly loved and respected.
As per Canon Law “A bishop who has completed his 75th year of age is requested to offer his resignation from office to the Supreme Pontiff, who, taking all circumstances into account, will make provisions accordingly” (Can 401:1). Taking all things into consideration, it is time for the Vatican to act in taking down the Cardinal.
Considering Gracias’ high profile status, his acts of omission or commission severely impact the community. He therefore attracts Jesus’ injunction, “Much is required from the person to whom much is given; much more is required from the person to whom much more is given” (Lk 12:48).
While writing this article I came across one in La Civilta Cattolica dt 5th January from Rome by Rev Andreas Batlogg SJ. He bemoans 522,821 Catholics leaving the Church in Germany in 2022 alone. That is about the same number as Gracias’ diocese. Those leaving found the Catholic Church obsolete, partially because of its poor public image. Battalog also refers to a song “Should I go or should I stay?” by the British rock group “The Clash” in 1982. Poignant.
I am also reminded of two of India’s former PMs who chose to relinquish office. The best known case is that of Lal Bahadur Shastri who as Railway Minister in 1956, resigned on moral grounds for a train accident in Ariyalur, TN, that claimed 142 lives.
Lesser known is the case of V.P. Singh, then Chief Minister of U.P. He had cracked down hard on dacoits, and said that he would resign if he couldn’t contain them. Little did he know that his own elder brother, CSP Singh, a Judge of the Allahabad High Court, would be the next victim. He promptly resigned.
Considering that General Elections are round the corner, and the BJP s aiming at 400 seats in Parliament, it desperately needs Christian votes from their pockets of influence in Kerala, Goa and the North East. The statements and actions of the Cardinal would promote the BJP’s agenda. That would be suicidal for the Minorities in India.
Hence it is time for him to now go gracefully, rather than people later asking, “Why hasn’t he quit yet?” I conclude with the ominous logic of the High Priest Caiphas, “You do not understand that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish” (Jn 11:50).
As we enter a new year I hope and pray that good sense and graciousness will prevail on all concerned.
JANUARY 2024
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