Many of the Catholic Churches run ‘charity’ organizations on their own, and also run some FCRA organizations that operate under the direct control of the Church. The Legal Rights Observatory (LRO) has been publishing evidence that foreign funds obtained through these organizations are being used for illegal activities, including religious conversion.

The LRO has found that the Hazaribagh Catholic Church in Jharkhand received ₹ 10.95 crores from the FCRA and used it to stage a protest demanding the release of Urban Naxal priest Stan Swamy, who was arrested for proselytizing. The LRO also alleges that church priests encouraged proselytizing tribesmen to conceal their conversions and obtain false credentials as ‘Hindus’ in order to obtain government benefits.

The Bhopal Catholic Church in Madhya Pradesh has also been accused of violating FCRA rules. The Pastoral Care of Nomads in India was founded by the Vatican for the priests who travelled and ministered with the nomads. It also appears to be receiving funding through the FCRA in the name of this organization.

It is learned that the Bhopal Church used the funds to convert the Bhil tribe. There has been a lot of financial abuse going on in this church. Pastor Anand Muttungal, a spokesman for the presidency, also accused Archbishops Cornelio and Pascal Dapno of violating church rules.

He had apparently revealed some of the irregularities perpetrated by the two Arcbishops to the congregation, including the vicar appointed by the two, and told them about the crimes they were committing. Anand Muttungal accused Archbishops Cornelio and Pascal of plotting against him, and soon he was arrested and jailed for 50 days on charges that included forgery and forging documents.

It is noteworthy that no one from the church had come to his aid. He went to the Madhya Pradesh High Court without getting a bail in the lower court and was later released on bail of ₹ 50,000. He also complained to the police that he was being poisoned because he had exposed the archbishops about the fraud.

The court issued arrest warrants against three members of the church, including the archbishops, following a petition filed in court by the police investigating the complaint. But Archbishop Cornelio was granted bail and the church acted in his favour. He was finally expelled from the church on the basis of a complaint sent to the Pope by Pastor Anand Muttungal alleging that he had acted against the church.

The LRO has written to the Union Home Ministry with appropriate evidence pointing out these irregularities and frauds. The LRO has demanded that the financial statements of the Bhopal and Hazaribagh churches be examined and that the FCRA investigate the irregularities and revoke the license.