Church forms collegiate tribunal against Kerala priest accused of violating ecclesiastical norms

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], October 7 (ANI): The Thamarassery diocese of the catholic church in Kerala has constituted a collegiate tribunal to initiate a penal judicial process against a priest who was accused by church authorities of violating a series of ecclesiastical norms.

The constitution of an ecclesiastical court for the trial of a priest is considered an unusual step for a church to take.

Father Mathew Pulimoottil has been appointed as Promoter of Justice and the officials of the Collegiate Tribunal would be Fr George Mundanatte, Fr James Kallingal VC, Fr Antony Varakil and Fr John Pallikkavayalil, the bishop of Thamarassery in order copy stated.

The bishop of Thamarassery in the order copy said that the tribunal is also aimed at repairing the damages and scandal” caused by the priest’s acts of disobedience and anti-ecclesial activities

“This being the situation, after due deliberations, having heard the promoter of justice, I have appointed a Collegiate Tribunal to initiate a penal judicial process to probe into these alleged offences and decide on the appropriate penal sanctions to be taken to repair the damages and scandal caused by your acts of disobedience and anti-ecclesial activities, violating the disciplinary norms of the church,” it stated.

He further alleged that Puthiyaparambil was appointed as vicar of a local church, but he didn’t accept the appointment and suddenly left after publishing a note on social media.

“You publicly took a stand against the decision of the Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church and incited sedition and hatred towards the hierarch, provoking the faithful to disobedience through your public speeches and messages on social media, causing scandal and violating ecclesiastical discipline,” it alleged.

Meanwhile, attempts were made by the Eparchial bishop and the members of the Curia to get the priest to return to the eparchy and assume the new assignment was in vain as he obstinately insisted on his decision, thus violating canonical norms, the order charged.

Though Fr Thomas ‘Aji’ Puthiyaparambil was suspended by the Thamarassery diocese of the prominent Syro Malabar Church in July 2023, Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil revoked the decision in his latest order.

“Consequently, I revoke the order issued to you on 18 July 2023 (Order No. 3930). Since you have not taken canonical possession of the office of Vicar, St. Joseph’s Church Nooramthode, as per the appointment order, you are asked to reside at Good Shepherd Priest Home, Marikkunnu, during the period of the penal trial. I request you to cooperate with the judicial penal procedure.” it stated.

Henceforth, the bishop directed the priest to appear before the tribunal when duly summoned and cooperate with the judicial penal procedures.

Fr Thomas (Aji) Puthiyaparambil had allegedly criticized the decaying of the church, especially regarding financial matters, exploiting people spiritually and other things on social media after which in July 2022 he was suspended.