The Great Procurator

Thinking about our diocesan procurator, Fr. Vinod, it can't be helped but think of another historical figure. He too was a Procurator, the Great Procurator of Jerusalem, Mr. Pontius Pilot, himself.

As Pontius Pilot did two thousand year ago this procurator of ours is trying to enforce the will of the Ceasar of Chicago on the Syro-Malabar faithfuls of America. Now here is a young and promising priest who has virtually turned into a mouthpiece of a most arrogant and stupid master by betraying his own conscience and Faith. This is a man who hails from a pro-crucifix diocese, was the secretary of one of the most pro-crucifix bishop in Kerala. Moreover he has claimed on many occasions that he had never seen a Mar Thoma Cross while serving in his previous diocese. How can such a man forget all this when he landed in America and fight against the same faith values he thus far believed in? Of course he can claim he has to obey the local bishop. But we all know thirty silver coins still have great allure even after two centuries.


Most recently he has been batting for bishop Angadiath in Coppell, Texas. He is threatening the faithful there with dire consequences, including, but not limited to, foreclosure of their cherished church, if people do not contribute generously. The people of Coppell doesn't need the threats of Fr. Vinod. The people of Coppell does not need the threats of Fr. Varghese. The faithful of Coppell also does not need the threats and harassement from Bishop Angadiyath or his two-bit chancellor or procurator.  Maybe the people of Coppell can show the rest of you a thing or two about contributing to the church generously. Just look at the record time it took us to raise over a million dollars to buy this beautiful church. 


If peace is what the bishop wants, he will get it. He only has to restore the status quo in Coppell. He cannot just have one of his flunky open a bank account and insist people deposit money in it. Local administration of a parish church has to be entrusted to the representatives of the parish and the pastor. Where else in the world would a bishop meddle in the mundane matters of a parish church? This is certainly unheard of.


Lately there is a concerted effort from the part of the authorities to pin the blame for the Coppell issues on a number of lay leaders. But the world knows it was started by none other than the bishop himself. We truly believe our bishop has lost his way. He has lost his true Catholic faith. The fervor he has for the un-catholic Mar Thoma cross and the altar viri, is the fervor of the heretic. Like any heretic, he also wants to drag this who community with him.