Communists threaten to sever limbs of Indian Bishop

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India (UCAN) - A bishop in Kerala says he has received a letter threatening to sever his limbs if he continues to speak against the southern Indian state's communist government.

Bishop Joseph Porunnedom of Mananthavady reportedly told a function on Dec. 9 that he received an unsigned letter but ignored it. "I'm not scared. Threats can't change my stand on the issues," the 51-year-old bishop added.

The function venue was a parish church in Kattikulam, a tribal village in his diocese. He said the postal seal revealed the letter was posted from that village.

The diocese is based in Mananthavady, a town in Wayanad district, 2,400 kilometers south of New Delhi.

Father Joseph Thomas Therakam, diocesan spokesperson, told UCA News on Dec. 10 that Bishop Porunnedom received the letter three days earlier. "We ignored the letter and never complained to the police," the priest said.

The letter said the bishop's legs and hands would be chopped off if he continued to speak against the state government and communists, Father Therakam said.

The Catholic Church in Kerala has opposed the coalition government, which came to power in May 2006, primarily because of its education policies. It has mainly battled the Marxists, who head the coalition. Church people allege the policies help communists usurp Christian institutions.

The Church-state rift widened after some communist leaders initiated campaigns against bishops and other Church leaders. A communist leader even identified one bishop as a drunkard in a public meeting.

Even so, the recent letter had no precedent.

"It's the first time a bishop is getting threatened in Kerala, a state known for harmony. It's most unfortunate," Father Therakam said. "We are not concerned about the threat," he added, insisting the Church "is not going to dilute its stand against the government's anti-people policies."

Some lay leaders, however, are concerned about attempts to silence the Church. "It shows the attitude of the Marxists. If you do not fall in line with the party, they use threats to silence you. But it will not be successful with the Church," remarked Charlie Paul, former state president of the Christian Life Community.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur issued a pastoral letter on Dec. 9 asking parishes not to allow Catholic members of communist parties to hold parish offices.

Several churchgoing Catholics are members of the Marxist party, and hundreds of others sympathize with it, although they do not belong to it.

The seven-page pastoral letter, which was read in all the archdiocese's 400 parishes, asserted followers of Jesus Christ cannot be atheists.

Those assuming responsible positions in parishes should testify in writing to their belief in Jesus Christ, their commitment to righteousness and their obedience to Church authorities, the letter stated.

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It did not name any political party, but warned the faithful to be cautious of "atheists" creeping into the Church for political power gains.

"After gaining power, they will change their colors by bringing pressures, challenges and misleading propaganda. (They hope) to undermine institutions in the field of education, with a hidden agenda to imposing their atheist philosophy," the archbishop warned.

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Republished by Catholic Online with permission of the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News), the world's largest Asian church news agency (www.ucanews.com).