Senior Orthodox Church priest Fr Shyju Kurian from Kerala has been removed from all Church posts after joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a Christmas event on December 30, 2023.
On December 30, 2023, the priest, along with 47 individuals from the Catholic Church, officially became members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the Christmas Sneha Sangam event organized by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The joining ceremony took place in the presence of Union Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan
Fr Shyju, who was the secretary of the Nilakkal Dioceses of the Syrian Orthodox Church and held a prominent position in the Sunday School, claimed that he had taken leave and that it was natural to step down from his posts. However, Church authorities took action on Friday, January 5, following his political association.
The Church has initiated an investigation into allegations of misconduct against Fr Shyju, appointing a commission to probe the matter. The commission is expected to submit its report within two months.
Fr Shyju is not the first clergy member to join the BJP in Kerala. In October of the previous year, Fr Kuriakose Mattem of the St Thomas Catholic Church in Idukki had joined the party and was subsequently removed from his vicarship. Sources within the BJP had then claimed that Fr Kuriakose was the first Catholic priest in Kerala to join the party.
The Church has also issued directives to priests, instructing them to refrain from speaking to the media without explicit permission.