Alexander Mapleton
Some Commonly Propagated Falsehoods
Alex Mapleton
There are some people within Kerala and many more vocal ones outside who are unkind to the Knanaya tradition of endogamy. Also, it is not a secret that there are many, both laymen and clergy, who are very unfriendly towards the existence of the arch eparchy of Kottayam. These oppositionsare becoming more and more conspicuous. During the past few decades, these people have held parades and processions in protest and convened public meetings and seminars to propagate their dissenting views. They have actively recruited speakers and writers to speak and write on their behalf. Besides, for years they have been sending written petitions to various authorities in Rome seeking reversal of the status quo. The much publicized Biju Uthup case in Kerala served to highlight their cause tosome extent. Lately, it is learnt that many exogamous Knaniteshave filed lawsuits in lower courts challenging the legal validity of the Knanaya traditions that govern our aged old and Church approved practices.
Against this backdrop, it behooves every caring Knanite to become knowledgeable about the facts and the framework in which our community and diocese function. Creating a smokescreen or fog of falsehoods and suspicions may lead many uninformed and otherwise innocent people into believing that Knanites are ‘unchristian’ in both our attitude and actions. Let facts speak for themselves. Be well informed so we can explain our stand when need arises. Hence this article.
1. Expulsion of exogamous Knanites from parishes/diocese and denial of sacraments/ spiritual needs
This is totally untrue; not even a single such case exists. What usually happens is this: Any Knanite who decides to marry from outside applies for permission to leave the diocese (PLAK) because a nonknanite cannot be included as a parishioner. (Our diocese was erected exclusively for Southists per the papal bull.) Anybody and everybody are welcome in all our parishes to meet individual spiritual needs.
2. Non-inclusion of an exogamous Knanite and his/her spouse in Kottayam is against Christian doctrines/ biblical teachings.
Membership is what cannot be granted. Spiritual needs are taken care of whenever requested. Canonically it is legal to have parishes based on rite, language, nationality, or some other basis. (Knanites are of Iraqi-Judeo Christian descent.) It is also exempt from the territorial rule, that is, geographical boundaries. In 1990, Pope John Paul II promulgated a special Code of Canon to safeguard and promote the unique or specific features of the Eastern heritage. This is a safeguard Kottayam must make use of as much as any other diocese. Apostolic tradition shows that there were Jewish Christians, Gentile Christians, etc. Everyone that embraced Jesus’ good news did become Jewish Christians. Jewish Catholics in Israel now has their own diocese.
3. Is endogamy against any law or a violation of human rights?
Endogamy is a matter of personal choice made freely and willingly. Any obstruction is a violation of the US Constitution. The practice of endogamy is a 16 plus century old tradition. A tradition with at least 30 years of continuous practice enjoys the force of law. Setting up qualifications for membership in a club, community, etc. is a common practice. Being born of both Knanayaparents is the ‘raison d’etre’ [mainspring] and consecutive principle for membership in the Knanayacommunity. Also, the characterization that observance of endogamy amounts to promoting Manu’s Code on the caste system is incorrect.
4. Purity of Blood
No credible or well- informed Knanite will ever make such a claim. Many nonknanites having experienced the warmth, hospitality, love and generosity displayed by Knanites have on many instances, attributed that as the reason for our previously mentioned bits of behavior.
Also no one has ever advanced “preserving the purity of blood” as justification for the practice of endogamy.
5. ‘Knai Thommen’ just a trader?
A very poor description of a man with a myriad of talents. Yes, by profession/ business Knai Thommen was a trader who did that between the East and the Middle East before he undertook the leadership for the 400 strong missionary group. Unlike the army that accompanied the European traders from Portugal, France, and England to India, his group did comprise of a bishop and some clergy. What he was doing was obliging the request of his bishop in Uraha (Edessa). Once settled in Kerala, he did more for his people, other Christians, and some patriotic acts for the emperor.
6. Knanites and Missionary Work
In terms of evangelical work, Knanaya people have always been in the forefront both outside Kerala and abroad. Today, missionary work is not necessarily conversion to Christianity; it is conversion of the mind based on the ‘Good News’ Jesus gave us.
We now have four bishops serving outside of Kerala. There are 172 diocesan priests and 352 missionary priests as per 2008 statistics.
A Truth Never Fully Revealed
Each and every Knanite, male or female, who chose a spouse outside our community, did so very willingly and deliberately after seeking permission in writing, to leave our fold. In general, the factors that favored that choice may be emotional (love) and/or economic (acquiring increased assets, opportunity to go abroad—USA, UK, etc.) Not a single one did so because he/she strongly believed that endogamy as practiced is ‘unchristian’ and wanted to lodge his/her protest vehemently. Paradoxically, however, they are eager to enjoy the best of both the worlds—emotional/material gains from marriage and Knanaya membership. This will very easily explain the reason for all this commotion.
Let me make an appeal for understanding. Even before Kottayam diocese was erected, Southists have enjoyed parishes set aside specifically for them with priests from their own community. Therefore, the resistance posed by Southists against inclusion of exogamous Knanites and their families in Kottayam, thereby violating the original Papal frame work for their diocese, is legitimate and therefore calls for tolerance on the part of others.
A Reply to Alexander Mapleton regarding the following Article
ReplyDeleteBy Alex Kavumpurath, National Coordinator, KANA
My reply is in AK red. Published in 3 parts
First Part
Endogamy & the Archdiocese of Kottayam:
Some Commonly Propagated Falsehoods
Alex Mapleton
There are some people within Kerala and many more vocal ones outside who are unkind to the Knanaya tradition of endogamy. Also, it is not a secret that there are many, both laymen and clergy, who are very unfriendly towards the existence of the arch eparchy of Kottayam. These oppositions are becoming more and more conspicuous. During the past few decades, these people have held parades and processions in protest and convened public meetings and seminars to propagate their dissenting views. They have actively recruited speakers and writers to speak and write on their behalf. Besides, for years they have been sending written petitions to various authorities in Rome seeking reversal of the status quo. The much publicized Biju Uthup case in Kerala served to highlight their cause to some extent. Lately, it is learnt that many exogamous Knanites have filed lawsuits in lower courts challenging the legal validity of the Knanaya traditions that govern our aged old and Church approved practices.
Alex Kavumpurath (AK):
We are unkind to Knanaya tradition of exclusion because it is unkind. We have a right to take whatever actions to make it kind. I am not and KANA is not against Kottayam diocese or Knanaya community. Our actions are to make this community a better and stronger community by keeping all our children with us. Trying to end discrimination and exclusion is not to destroy the community, but to save its soul and body. If anybody has any doubt, check with Jesus to see why he opposed Jewish practice of endogamy at his time. Filing legal cases and complaints with Rome are traditional ways to settle disputes. We took these actions because the other side refused to talk to find an equitable solution. If you want to talk, our door is still open.
Against this backdrop, it behooves every caring Knanite to become knowledgeable about the facts and the framework in which our community and diocese function. Creating a smokescreen or fog of falsehoods and suspicions may lead many uninformed and otherwise innocent people into believing that Knanites are ‘unchristian’ in both our attitude and actions. Let facts speak for themselves. Be well informed so we can explain our stand when need arises. Hence this article.
AK: Lately we see this kind of articles in many places and sense an orchestrated attempt to mislead people in the pretext to educate them in response to what is happening in Kerala and Rome. The fact of the matter is that even though Kottayam bishops and endogamy supporters tried their best, Rome sided with KANA and the court in Kerala sided with Biju Uthup in previous cases. We have no doubt that the same will happen in our latest cases.
In any association, there is a minimum criteria of eligibility for membership. For eg. in the association of Govt Doctors, the eligibility of an existing member ceases the moment he retires or leaves the govt job. Like wise, the eligibility to be a member of the knanaya community is that he should be born of knite parents and follow endogamy if he marries. So the very moment he marries a non-knanite, he cease to be a member. Knanaya community is only for its members and not for all those who are born to knanite parents. KANAs are not its members. Any knanite knows it.
ReplyDeleteThe KANAs opt exogamy Only knowing this very well. Then there is no point or use in being unkind evn if it is exclusion! It is an inevitable consequence of breaking the basic charesteric law of knanaya. Braking the basic rules of eligibility, nobody can continue to be a member of any association. The logic is so simple!
If the KANAs or their families are included, no more the community can be called as "Knanaya". So it is mere ignorance to claim that knanaya can be made better and stronger by accommodating the non-kna and the KANAs, thereby making it too "non-knanaya"! It only causes the total destruction of knanaya. If any body has any doubt that maintaining endogamy in knanaya is against the teachings of Jesus, what they have to do is to openly stand for and try for the demolition/ distruction of Knanaya and not to try to make that too "non-knanaya" or try themselves to be included in Knanaya!
The membership of a community is to be decided by that community alone and not by non-knas, even if it is our most beloved HH Pope himself! The Holy See too is of the same stand that the membership should be decided by the Community as pointed out by our Bishop Mar Moolakkat in Apnadesh published earlier.
A parish when it is named as 'knanaya" it becomes a part of the Community. So, only the members of the community can be the members of the that parish too. In knanaya parishes, membership rules of the Church cannot be against the criteria of membership of the Community. If not agreeable, what the Church could do is only to derecognize that parish as 'knanaya" and count it only as a regular SM parish.