Kerala church writes to PM Modi urging to reject ‘abolish confessions’ proposal

National Commission for women’s (NCW) controversial proposal to abolish the practice of “confessions” in churches stirred a huge uproar in the Kerala Catholic Bishops conference on Friday, with the church body even writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to reject the recomendation.

In the letter addressed to the Prime Minster, the church questioned the authenticity of the commission to dictate such things, saying that the “NCW chairperson shouldn’t dictate that you (the government) abolish this.” It also urged the centre to refuse such proposals.

“We have written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to reject the panel’s recommendations. This is the question of the existence of the minorities. On what basis has the panel made such a suggestion? What is its motive behind such an act?” Father Varghese Vallikkatt, spokesperson for the Kerala Catholic Bishops Conference, told The Indian Express.

According to the church in the letter, “the strange recommendation…has been made without considering the moral, theological or psychological aspects of the centuries old spiritual practice of confession among the Christians.”

“Practice of confession has been there for centuries. Aberrations are there but that is not a reason for NCW chairperson to come and say that this age-old tradition should be abolished. A person who is not a member of the church and has nothing to do with the laws and faith of the church should not all of a sudden come and dictate that we should abolish this. That’s is what we are reacting to,” said Archbishop of Latin Catholic Archdiocese Trivandrum, Dr Soosa Pakiam to News18.

Also Read: One of four accused priests in Kerala assault case surrenders

He also described NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma’s remarks as “irresponsible” and asked her to withdraw it.

The women’s commission led by Sharma had on Thursday recommended the government to abolish the practice of “confession” in churches, claiming that it was a violation of the privacy and security of a woman. The panel had also filed a report on the sex scandals in Kerala.

She also added that a central agency will be tasked to investigate both the sex scandals in Kerala. Four priests of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church have been accused by a 34-year-old woman of sexual harassment and blackmailing, While the Bishop of Jalandhar, Franco Mulakkal have been accused of rape.

“There must be many more such cases what we have right now is just a tip of the iceberg” said the NCW chief referring to the increasing incidents of sexual abuses in churches of Kerala as quoted by Deccan Chronicle.