From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Apr 3: Warmly welcoming the arrests of the culprits involved in the murder of Fr K J Thomas, the Rector of St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore after midnight on March 31 last year, Social Activist and Anti-Corruption Crusader T J Abraham has asked the Kannada Catholic priests not to drag the bogey of the so-called language controversy created by them regarding the use of Kannada in the liturgy in the Archdiocese of Bangalore to further their selfish and narrow interests.
Abraham, who was joined by the Catholic Minorities Association leader Johnson and office-bearers of the Rajajinagar Konkani Catholic Welfare Association Edwin D’Souza, Richard D’Souza and Dolphy D’Cunha, addressed a press conference in Bangalore and declared that they were ''happy, appreciative and thankful that the Police have at least now primarily caught/found the ones suspected to be the accused involved in the crime of eliminating Fr K J Thomas.”
They said the police authorities ''have done an excellent job in reaching the stage of arresting the suspected persons and hope they would go further investigate the case to reach its finality. We do not believe the Home Minister or Our Archishop have any ulterior motive behind delaying or speeding up of the investigation of the case in any manner.
However, now that the Priests Association (Balaga) has expressed doubts and are demanding a CBI investigation, Abraham said: ''we also agree to their demand and welcome a CBI investigation into the case. Let the actual truth come out. Let the world know who is behind the brutal murder of Fr K J Thomas. This is our basic demand. Let the world know the truth.”
They expressed their shock that some people, who are unfortunately still priests, had come together under the banner of Karnataka Kannada Priests Association (Balaga) and have publicly criticized the Police action of arresting the suspects (priests)” and have shamefully claimed that the arrested trio, including two priests William Patrick and Elias and their lay assistant Peter as ''innocent.”
''It is shocking to note their statement that those priests presently arrested are innocent and not involved in the crime. We condemn their statement that those who have been arrested have been framed by the police at the behest of the Archbishop and the Home Minister just because they are Kannadigas,” they said.
''Credibility, Honesty of Priests Suspect”
Abraham and other leaders questioned the credibility, sincerity and honesty of the key leaders of the Balaga, including priests Fr Ckalkere Chowrappa Selveraj (Chasara), Parish Priest of St Joseph”s church in Chamrajpet, Fr A Thomas, Parish Priest of Kristha Karunalaya Church, Jaraganahalli, Kanakapura Road, and also the Principal/trustee of Christ School, Marianapalya Road, Kaglipura run by Carmel Seva Sangam Trust, Mariapura and Fr S Barthalomew,Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Tumkur.
''If they (these priests) are sure that those who have been presently apprehended are not involved, the question is who else is involved?,” Abraham asked and said: ''If these priests/people are absolutely sure that those who are arrested are innocent, then they should surely know who is actually involved.”
They demanded that the police should subject all those persons, who addressed or attended the press conference, to a thorough investigation to find out the truth and whether they themselves were involved or if they actually know who else is involved in the brutal killing of Fr K J Thomas.
It is a shame that these so-called Kannada Catholic Yajakara Balaga priests, who are originally from Andhra Pradesh and speak Telugu in their homes, are the ones who are misguiding and disturbing the peace in the Catholic Church in the name of protecting Kannada. These are the very people who also oppose a language that has originated and is used by people actually born in Karnataka, Konkani, a native language of the State.
''If these are people who have real concerns regarding Karnataka how can they oppose Konkani, an undisputed language of the people belonging to and born in Karnataka?,” they asked.
''If these priests’ association (Balaga) members are true Kannada loving people, how can they enter a Church, when a Kannada Mass is being celebrated and physically attack a Kannadiga priest? Are they really Catholics? Will any true Catholic enter the altar during Mass and attack the celebrant?,” they asked.
''We humbly hope and request these Catholic priests, if they want to form any associations for their personal purposes, let them first relinquish their priesthood (remove the holy dress/attire they are wearing) before behaving in a manner unbecoming of any Catholic Priest,” they said.
Source of Foreign Funding Must Be Probed
Abraham claimed that ''it is in public knowledge that the Carmel Seva Sangam Trust, which is run by the President of the Catholic Karnataka Kannada Priests Association (Balaga) Fr A Thomas, receives funds from foreign agencies such as FODERVEREIN BEDEN and ANNAPURNA FOUNDATION, Germany.”
''What is interesting is that this funding agency is, according to sources, a recipient of funds from amongst others, Billy Graham Evangelist Association, P O Box.1270, Charlote, 28201, 1270 USA (having an Indian Bank Account No.911010024922852 in Axis Bank, Sahakaranagar Branch) and LIVING WORD FELLOWSHIP. 512, Beach Pond Road, Voluntown, CT 06381, Box, 36, USA, who directly takes care of AGAPE Ministries India (having an Indian Bank Account No.15334 in Canara Bank, D’costa Square, Branch) and also PARTNER IN ASIAN MISSION, Box 531011, Birmingham, AL-35253, USA financing AGAPE Bible Fellowship(having an Indian Bank Account No 21638 in Canara Bank, D’costa Square, Branch),” he said.
The most shocking/coincidental aspect, according to Abrahm, is that the purpose of all these funding agencies in sending money was ''Maintenance of Priests/other religious functionaries.”
''Crores and crores of rupees are flowing for the maintenance of Priests. Which Priests?,” he asked and wondered if the priests were indeed ''The Priests of the Catholic Karnataka Kannada Priests Association (Balaga)?”
He demanded that all these things also require a thorough investigation by our investigation agencies for the public to know the truth, and alleged that the ''money received by the Carmel Seva Sangam Trust, which is run by Fr A Thomas, from a foreign agency called FODERVEREIN BEDEN, and ANNAPURNA FOUNDATION, Germany is meant for the purpose of “Education/Schools for the mentally challenged.”
''The usage of the foreign funds for any purpose other than what it was got/sent would amount to a violation under 3.6.1 of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010(FCRA 2010) earlier Act of 1976 (FCRA 1976). We have already complained to the concerned authorities in this regard for a thorough investigation and necessary legal action,” he claimed.
''Deliberate Attempt to Misguide People”
These priests leading the Kannada Catholicara Yajakara Balaga, Abraham said were creating an impression that they are the champions of the cause of Kannada and allege that the so-called Anti-Kannadigas are trying to suppress the demands of Kannada speaking Catholics in Karnataka.
''This is absolutely false and fabricated, only to misguide and fool the Kannada speaking Catholics in Karnataka and make Catholics in Karnataka feel frustrated and disgusted with the Catholic Church itself,” Abraham contended.
Abraham and his supporters contended that they were not opposed to some Kannada speaking Catholics coming together to form an association (Balaga). But it is most shameful to note that priests are coming together to form a Balaga to protest and protect their own grievances/demands or and also to protect suspected criminals/killers of a widely respected and scholarly, Catholic priest.
''We have seen Lingayat or Vokkaliga Swamyjis coming out in public for the cause of their people/communities. But, we have never seen any group of Swamijis airing their personal grievances/demands in the manner in which the Catholic priests have done and their acts of abuses against the Archbishop. The act of these Catholic priests is most condemnable and shameful to the entire community,” they said.
Threat to Expose Sleazy Activities
Abraham threatened to divulge more details of the ''activities of some of the Priests, who have been charged with rape and/or also the pleasure trips of priests in the comfortable company of women to famous holidaying destinations in the near future. We want to expose them and disclose their true nature even while continuing as priests. Can they continue as priests?”
Abraham said, ''We have reliably learnt that it is a conspiracy to intentionally create an unhealthy atmosphere in the Catholic Church and also to divert the attention away from the actual issue only to save the culprits (guilty of murdering Fr K J Thomas).”
Abraham has led several agitations against alleged corrupt deals involving politicians and also against Bangalore-Mysore Nandi Infrastructure Corridor chief Ashok Keny and was also involved in the protests against the Congress-led UPA regime’s move at the behest of the Union minister K R Rehman to name the proposed Central university for minorities in Mysore after Tippu Sultan besides filing Public Interest Litigations against several scams in the High Court.