NEW DELHI (UCAN): The Vatican Congregation for the Oriental Churches has appointed an apostolic visitor for the Kerala, India-based Missionary Congregation of Blessed Sacrament (MCBS) after it faced a revolt from some members who accused its leadership of election manipulation and harassment of members.
The congregation’s superior general, Father Joseph Maleparampil, said in an October 15 communication to members that apostolic visitor, Father Paul Achandy of the the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, has been appointed “ad nutum Sanctae Sedis (at the disposition of the Holy See) for our congregation,” he said. This means the Vatican is taking over an ecclesiastical jurisdiction following a conflict situation and reserving the right to run it until a final decision is made.
The move follows complaints from some MCBS priests that Father Maleparampil and his team acted unconstitutionally, harassed members and illegally postponed general elections.
The congregation has only two provinces. In one of them, the leadership team has already completed two terms but did not conduct an election in March, allegedly under cover of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Congregation for the Oriental Churches had permitted the superior general to postpone the election for four months. That means the election should have started on August 13 but it did not.
“We regret to approach you repeatedly for fairness and justice due to the unconstitutional behavior of our superior general and provincial superiors,” said a communication sent to the Vatican in August.
The priest’s letter alleged that with the superior general’s tacit approval, the provincials also thwarted a decision to bifurcate one province for more than six years. It was an attempt to help a coterie continue in power.
Members who challenged such decisions were punished with unlawful transfers, while one priest was suspended and then illegally dismissed. The priest continues in the congregation, but his case is now being heard at the Vatican.
“Many of the members of MCBS have written to you regarding the unconstitutional and unfair behaviour of the superior general against many of our members,” the letter said.
“We humbly request you to instruct the superior general to conduct the elections of the delegates in time and proceed to the commencement of the General and Provincial Synaxes,” said the appeal to the Vatican, a copy of which has been shared with UCA News.
Father Maleparampil did not respond to the calls and text messages from UCA News seeking a response.
The Missionary Congregation of Blessed Sacrament was founded in 1933 by Father Mathew Alakulam and Father Joseph Paredom of the Eastern-rite Syro-Malabar Church.
The congregation has some 500 members who work across India. They also work in Africa, America, Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the Philippines.
