Thamarassery: Ajimon Puthiyaparambil, a prominent Syro Malabar Catholic priest from the Thamarassery diocese of Kerala, made a decision on May 13 to relinquish his priestly ministerial duties in order to embark on a path of advocating reform within the Church.
Citing the prevalent decay in the Kerala church, he emphasized the need for transparency, gender equality, and a return to the core principles of love and kindness, according to a report published in The News Minute.
According to TNM, Father Ajimon identified various factors contributing to the general decay within the church, including conflicts over uniform liturgy, factional clashes in cyberspace, and opportunistic political alliances made by church leaders.
In his statement, he expressed concern that human-made liturgical rules had overshadowed the fundamental teachings of love and kindness. Furthermore, he lamented the emergence of hate-filled exchanges among church members online, the criminal accusations against church heads, and the formation of alliances driven by political expediency.
He was quoted as saying that he would like to take on the role of a ‘prophet’ dedicated to pointing out both the positive and negative aspects of the church. Father Ajimon pledged to focus on advocating for transparency in administration and finances, as well as promoting the adequate representation of women, nuns, and others in administrative capacities.
Acknowledging the limitations of effecting change from within the system, Father Ajimon stated that he had previously attempted to raise these issues but received no response. He acknowledged that fear and isolation often deter individuals from speaking out within the church, but expressed his willingness to endure any resulting isolation in order to fulfil his prophetic duty.
While there is a possibility that disciplinary action may be taken against him, he believes that ex-communication is unlikely, citing the absence of recent precedents.
The Thamarassery diocese, to which Father Ajimon belongs, has experienced polarization in the past, with the rise of Islamophobic narratives, including the contentious concept of "love jihad." However, Father Ajimon declined to comment on this specific issue, emphasizing that the problems he wishes to address are prevalent across the Kerala church and not specific to his diocese.
He stressed that the primary concerns revolve around the church's finances and wealth, indicating a need for further scrutiny and accountability.