After nun, former Indian Christian priest writes a tell-all book on sexual exploitation
Pastor
Barely a year after a former Catholic nun wrote in her autobiography
about the suppressed sexual life and draconian rules within the
convents, a former Catholic priest has come out with his own experiences
of homosexuality at seminaries, sexual misconduct of priests, lack of
transparency in money matters and the unfair approach of superiors.
In his 160-page book, Here is the heart of a Priest, K P Shibu
Kalamparambil has written about life he had had to lead as member of the
Catholic congregation Vincentian for past 24 years — 11 years as
priest, 13 as seminarian.
The 39-year-old former priest left the Catholic order in March 2010, and
flew to Doha where he joined as a teacher with an Indian school. A
native of Angamaly near Kochi, Shibu has found his leave period to
release and distribute the book. “I have faced stiff opposition from
the Vincentian congregation and my family alike when I broached the idea
of publishing my story.”
His book is an open letter about alleged sexual anarchy of priests,
injustice meted out to members and mismanagement of resources at a
Catholic order. “Three times I had met with road accident. As my
Congregation failed to support me, I had to meet the hospital bills on
all occasions.”
“While working as a teacher with the Congregation-run educational
institution in Kasargode, I had to face agitations from student outfits.
The Congregation did not come to my rescue. When a priest is insulted
continuously..., what is the logic in the Church saying that he should
suffer everything for Jesus?”
On his early days at Papal Seminary in Pune, Shibu alleges he was
sexually abused by senior seminarians. “Homosexual relations were
rampant in seminaries. The victims had to suffer silently. If they
complain..., both the accused and the victim would be shown the door.
Hence, succumbing to the urges of the seniors was the only option....”
“During pastoral work, the seminarians used to travel on cycles. While
moving around on a cycle, seminarians made a point to give lift to
children. They (children) would be asked to tightly embrace the riding
seminarian. Such acts were done with deliberate sexual intention,” he
alleges in the book. “There had been incidents of senior seminarians
pretending as priests and hearing confessions. ”
He alleges several priests sexually exploited widows or nuns sexually.
He also alleges, “Certain priests have no qualms to divert donations
from believers for their personal purposes. Church funds should be
handled by government agencies....”
Shibu himself is the publisher of his work, which has only 100 copies in
the first edition. “I am planning a second edition of 10,000
copies.”
Provincial-General of Vincentian Congregation Fr Paul Puthuva said he
would comment after reading the book.
Fr Paul Thelakkattu, spokesperson for the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church,
said: “Unfortunately the Church is one in which people like him are
also living and working.... He has simply betrayed the trust of the
faithful.”
In 2009, Sister Jesmy had embarrassed the Kerala Catholic Church by
writing about her sexual encounters with priests in her work Amen.
-- Pastor united...@eml.cc -- http://www.fastmail.fm - Same, same, but different...