Kerala bishops call Church Act deplorable

A circular from KCBC said the bill was prepared based on a false assumption that no system exists to manage Church properties.

Kochi:  Catholic bishops in Kerala have denounced a move to push through a legislation to control the properties of the Church.

The move to introduce a draft bill called Kerala Church (Properties and Institution) Bill, 2019, was “unfortunate and deplorable,” said a circular published in the website of Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Council.

The circular to be read out in all parishes of Kerala on March 3 Sunday said the justification given in the draft on the need of making such a law was “confusing and incorrect.”

The draft bill published by the Kerala law reforms commission last week sought public suggestions.

The bill might “look innocuous but its results could be extremely serious,” the bishops’ circular said.

The bill was prepared based on a false assumption that no system was in place to manage Church properties and a new law was necessary, it said.

The bill also gives a wrong impression that no forum was available to address grievances against management of Church properties. However, complaints on mismanagement can be filed in civil court, it said.

If any member of the church is not satisfied with the present system, then he or she can also raise it at the concerned avenue within the church, it said.

The Church’s assets are already managed under existing civil laws in the country. The constitution also guarantees religions to own and manage assets and institutions.

The proposed law was against the principles of Indian constitution, the bishops said, asking the government to abandon the move.

The bishops suspect a “dubious agenda” behind the bill to take away Church assets and institutions from the Church leadership and place them under government.

It asked Catholics to be vigilant against the “dangers and challenges” that the drift bill could open up.

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