Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 2

Following the raid by the Khanna police on the premises of Father Anthony Madasserry and reports appearing in the media related to him and three other priests of Diocese of Jalandhar running a Rs 40-crore partnership firm, several priests have claimed that they have already shown their resentment on the matter to the church authorities.

The priests, who are averse to running a firm, allege that it is a violation of Section 286 of the Canon Law as per which, “clerics are forbidden to practice commerce and trade, either personally or through another, for their own or another’s benefit, except on the permission of the lawful ecclesiastical authority”.

A senior priest says, “We have taken to priesthood after baptismal vow for poverty. Then how can we run a Rs 40-crore business? This is completely unethical and we have raised this matter a number of times in our meetings.”

Another priest says, “The idea of floating a firm started after Franco Mulakkal took over as Bishop in 2013. Initially, a plan was rolled in to start Prarthana Bhawan TV channel. In 2014, Sahodhaya was started and soon expanded. Finding things going the wrong way, one of the four priests had quit Sahodhaya affairs, but his name is still on record.”

Even the nuns are openly opposing such business practices. The nuns supporting Sister Lucy of Franciscan Clarist Congregation, who got a notice for not returning the salary she was drawing as a schoolteacher, have opened up on the matter. Kerala-based Sister Anupama, who is siding with the victim nun in the alleged rape case against Bishop Franco, has said, “This is a clear case of partiality and patriarchy in the system.”

Like Father Anthony Madassery, who is facing I-T interrogation, his partner in the firm Father Jose Palakuzha, also maintained that there was no violation of Canon Law since they had the permission of Bishop Franco.

“We are not running a profit-making company. Our purpose is only to give employment and do charity. We are also running transport business for schools and employing drivers and conductors,” he said, adding that so far he had not been interrogated by the I-T team.