-George Moolechalil
( Treasurer, Joint Christian Council )
Being a responsible office-bearer of the Joint Christian Council (JCC) I would like to clarify the points appeared in the misleading reports of the ‘syromalabarvoice’ blog on the prayer-dharna held at Kakkanad on 23rd May. As having judged us as anti-church and belittled us as a mere agency for any works, it is a moral obligation of the people behind the blog to publish this response. Hope that the justice will be done.
Your first report itself was a blatant lie, for it said that people from various parishes of America had organized the prayer-dharna at Kakkanad! We sensed a foul smell then itself. Infact ,it was an action of solidarity by the JCC with the Catholic brotheren of Garland . And, we think that it was known to the owners of the blog. Instead of appreciating the great value of solidarity shown by the people of their birth-place, they opted to cover it with untruth. The blog disgraced itself!
The next report was unbeievably shocking. It said that the entire program was an agency work and that the agency was JCC (JICC is incorrect) which consists of people hostile to the Church! Now it is a question how the ‘syromalabarvoice’ could judge a federation of lay men’s organizations which is unknown to it? Another question is whether such judgements are biblically (Matt. 7:1-2)fair?
Now,let me tell the truth about the Joint Christian Council, which is the federation of independent Christian groups in Kerala. Some Syro-malabar groups among them have the history of fighting against the imposition of Chaldeanisation/ Manickaen cross too, since about 15-20 years . So, most of the groups in JCC are already aware of the danger in Chaldeanisation. But later on they understood the very aim of the Oriental Congregation in imposing the Chaldean patrimony with the help of some bishops. This was to deny our own patrimony ie. the patrimony of the law of St. Thomas. So, the focus of the organizations changed from the symptoms to the root-cause, from superficial symbols to the basic church-structure.
Now, the JCC and its member-organisations are in a path of struggle for the enactment of the proposed ‘Church Act’ (Kerala Christian Church Properties and Institutions Trust Bill) under the Indian constitution. The Church Act contains the very essence of our time tested system of 3 tier palliyogams. Once this law is enacted then the spiritual and temporal powers will be separated- the priests will lead the church in spiritual aspects and the faithful, through elected trust members, will administer the temporalities of the church. This system is biblically (Acts.6:1-4) as well as traditionally correct. If the law was implemented, there was no question of registering the church and its properties in America or elsewhere in the world to the bishops – it will belong to the elected parish trust. And, when there is no temporal power, no bishop or priest will undermine the faithful and and impose things on their heads and the affairs in the church will go in smoother way.
The prayer-dharna was planned much earlier to pressurize the bishops to (1) to discuss the Church Act in the synod and (2) to christianise (Act.1:23-26)the election of bishops. It was planned entirely with these two aims. But, when some friends from Garland requested us at the last moment to raise their issue also along with in this program, without any hesitation we accepted it. Because, we not only knew the problem but involved also to some extent. ( For example, 3 long responses and an illustrated article from the ‘Kerala Sabdam’ written by this writer have been published in the same blog last year. I was also instrumental in bringing Garland issue known to many publications in Kerala and abroad.) We still consider it as our own issue. And, unlike the ‘syromalabarvoice’ we are against any kind of agency work. Is it not unethical like engaging quotation groups? ( Of course, we are agents of the teachings of Jesus Christ) There are persons among us who spent lakhs of rupees for the recent advertising campaign of the Church Act! When such generous people are there in Kerala itself, why should we go for ugly agency work?
The JCC being a whole Kerala movement , we have our own flag and it is used in all the programs we conduct.
The ‘syromalabarvoice’ is trying to tarnish our credibility without any basis. And, it is unfair. If the people behind it are noble enough, Christian enough, they will definitely take back their hurting words about the JCC and its members. We hope that they are noble enough to correct themselves. It is assured that we are still in solidarity with the Kerala Catholics in America.
8 comments:
I don't see any issue with what you are saying here. We are all working for the betterment of human society and uphold Christ's teaching. The bishops should welcome you and your earnest effort to steer them away from worldly pursuits. The Clergy should focus on spiritual matters and let laity handle the material matters.
It seems that neither the clergy nor the lay have properly understood what religion means. Recently I happened to read an issue of 'Views and Words' written by Dr. K S Radhakrishnan (Formerly Vice-chancellor) and published through 'Share and Learn' organized by www.indianthoughts.in . I just paste it here for general referance.
"There has been a continuous stream of thought among the philosophers, social reformers, politicians and activists that competition, conflict, crisis and final culmination in destruction should be the way of life. This ideology has been endorsed by the Old Testament, Hitler, Marx, Darwin and many others. But there is another way of life that believes in co-existence, co-operation and harmony. Jesus Christ believed and propagated this unique way of life, which is known as the New Testament, new in the sense that it never goes old; it is ever new and it can never be reversed by anything other than what it is. That ever new law that governs life is ‘love’.
The market economy stands as a testimonial against the New Testament and Jesus Christ. The first enemy of market economy is Jesus Christ and his concept of love, because He insists that one has to share everything with the other. Market economy on the contrary, never believes in sharing but it advises humans to concentrate on every worldly thing for oneself. Market economy believes in centralization of power, wealth etc. Centralization naturally demands competition, which ends up in conflict, crisis and destruction.
Market economy projects a very unreal picture of the world because it says that every human being can satisfy their unlimited greed in the name of need by producing unlimited amount of commodities. This belief really is the basis of commodification of worldly things. Market economy says that man also should be a commodity and everything in human life can be transformed into commodity. A place where commodities are exhibited can be briefed as market. Market economy earnestly believes that there is a market in man and man himself is a market.
The procedure of marketization of human beings is really the act of maya because the person who believes in market conceals the real nature of man and projects the unreal. The real nature of man has been explained properly by Jesus, when he said that there is heaven in us to enshrine the love in us. Market economy conceals the real nature of love and projects the unreal nature of humanity in the form of hatred, conflict, crisis and destruction."
There has been a continuous stream of thought among the philosophers, social reformers, politicians and activists that competition, conflict, crisis and final culmination in destruction should be the way of life. This ideology has been endorsed by the Old Testament, Hitler, Marx, Darwin and many others. But there is another way of life that believes in co-existence, co-operation and harmony. Jesus Christ believed and propagated this unique way of life, which is known as the New Testament, new in the sense that it never goes old; it is ever new and it can never be reversed by anything other than what it is. That ever new law that governs life is ‘love’.
The market economy stands as a testimonial against the New Testament and Jesus Christ. The first enemy of market economy is Jesus Christ and his concept of love, because He insists that one has to share everything with the other. Market economy on the contrary, never believes in sharing but it advises humans to concentrate on every worldly thing for oneself. Market economy believes in centralization of power, wealth etc. Centralization naturally demands competition, which ends up in conflict, crisis and destruction.
Market economy projects a very unreal picture of the world because it says that every human being can satisfy their unlimited greed in the name of need by producing unlimited amount of commodities. This belief really is the basis of commodification of worldly things. Market economy says that man also should be a commodity and everything in human life can be transformed into commodity. A place where commodities are exhibited can be briefed as market. Market economy earnestly believes that there is a market in man and man himself is a market.
The procedure of marketization of human beings is really the act of maya because the person who believes in market conceals the real nature of man and projects the unreal. The real nature of man has been explained properly by Jesus, when he said that there is heaven in us to enshrine the love in us. Market economy conceals the real nature of love and projects the unreal nature of humanity in the form of hatred, conflict, crisis and destruction.
(Part of article published in Indian Thoughts, written by Dr K S Radhakrishnan, (Formerly Vice CHancellor)
JCC
If "syromalabarvoice" is not careful it can ruin itself.
I never heard about JCC. If this is what they are doing then everybody should be supporting them. This is exactly what we need.
JCC fellow,
What are the organizations under you? Please name them all. To be called 'Joint' there should be some. Do you have a website to know more about you?
What a pitty is this? The vast majority of syro malabar catholics are getting a real bad image in Kerala, US and world over because of few priests and now because of some unknown lay organizations and lay men who consider themselves as the true face of syro malabar. This includes the great Coppel/Garland fighters too.
What % of syro malabar catholics really care about this cross issue? less than 5%?
I don't care what cross really. But I do care that syro malabar has a clear policy on this and al follow that. Not like some bishop/priest do what they think is right.
Feel the same when the issue of should priest face the people or not during mass comes up. Why not just one policy?
Isn't all this created by some human in the past? And diverted by some other human? So there is not really much value in these symbolic things and acts.
ABOUT JCC & ITS MEMBER ORGANISATIONS
This response is mainly to answer the query about the member-organisations of the Joint Christian Council (JCC). Presently, the JCC consists of 13 organisations. They are:
(1) Kerala Latin Catholic Association- Ernakulam, (2) Kerala Catholic Federation- Thrissur, (3) Kerala Catholic Action Council-Thrissur, (4) Council of Dalit Christians- Vypin, Kochi, (5) Kerala Catholic Unity Centre-Ernakulam, (6) Kerala Catholic church Reformation Movement- Pala, Kottayam, (7) Latheen Samudaya Navodhana Vedi- Kochi, (8) St. Rapheal’s Laymen Association- Alappuzha, (9) All India Catholic Association- Palakkad, (10) Kerala Christian youth Movement- Kochi, (11) Knanaya Catholica Naveekarana Samithi- Kottayam Diocese, (12) Orthodox Christian Action Council- Ernakulam, and (13) Catholic Reformation Movement- Vyttila.
Sree Lalan Tharakan, Ezhupunna ( Ph.No: 9447260482) is the Chairman, Sree Joseph Velivil (Ph. No: 9895420830) is the Working Chairman, Sree Joy Paul Puthussery (ph.no: 9400724430)is the Gen. Secretary and myself ( Ph. No: 9497088904) is the Treasurer of the JCC. Apart from them there are 7 more office-bearers and 14 Council members for the JCC. Attempts are going on to welcome more like-minded organizations into the fold of JCC.
We have plans to start website, blog, e magazine etc. but yet to start them for want of professionals dedicated to the cause that we stand for and also of the required finance. So, presently our communication is limited to emails. To those who give their email id we send them our literature.
What Mr. Bibin says is exactly right – the concentration of power and wealth is unchristian. Hence, it is clear that the hierarchical structure of the Catholic church with unquestionable authority over spiritual as well as temporal matters is in itself unchristian. It is known to everyone that Jesus Christ has never given any temporal authority to any of his apostles….Yes, we are hitting at this very unChristian and unCatholic structure of the Church.
George Moolechalil (ph.no: 9497088904)
ithu ethavanaadaa, english-il ezhuthy koottiyirikkunnathu! aaru vaayikkanada mone! ninakkokke vere paniyonnumille?
Moolechalil chetta,
JCC ye kurichulla kooduthal vivarangalkku nandi. Kandappol manasil kure thoughts vannoo..
1) Enthinanu ethrayadhikam cheriya cheriya sangadanakal, related to christian faith and faith administration?
2) Ellam oru thiruthal vadi pole thonnunnallo peril ninnum. Action/Reformation/Naveekaranam okke.. Athra bad ano sabha?
3) Elathinum mukalil oru JCC undakki. Eni ennanavo athu FOMA/FOKANA pole pilarunnathu?
4) Ethonnum alklathe sadharana manushyarkku upakarappedunna valla sangadanakalum undavumo?
5) Engane mukkinu mukkinu sangadana undakkathe church wide ayi ulla ethngilum sangadana (is SMCC something like that?) vazhi ethirppulla karyangal paranju fight cheyyunnathalle better?
Valiya arivonnum ellatha, oru bishop pandu mukham karuppichappol oru sabha undayi enna polathe silly karyangalil viswasikkatha oru pavan almayante verum chinthakal mathram...
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