An undated rant by a Catholic priest directed at Christian Church worshippers and throwing of offerings given to him has gone viral on social media.
Father Joseph Christian, is a Parish Priest of St. Anne’s Church in Rajakrishnapuram, Tirunelveli District, which is under the Tuticorin Diocese.
According to reports, 30 families from the Susaiappar Anbiam group gave only three oranges as an offering to Father Joseph Christian during the prayer ceremony on the day of the incident.
Enraged by the offerings, Father Joseph Christian can be seen in the video humiliating the 30 families of the Soosiappar Anbiam for having only offered 3 oranges to him. He is seen throwing the offerings and berating them for not being generous enough.
In the video, Father Joseph Christian can be heard saying, “Dear all, Soosaiyappar Anbiam has arranged for this beautiful prayer meet. All of you have come together and arranged this. I applaud your efforts. But I have to give you one advise. We have spent thousands of rupees to arrange this. But what is the use of all these. Rain spoiled it last time. What is the use of having you?”
He added, “First of all, all thirty families in the assembly should participate and give their offerings. Do you think I am a beggar? You have given me 3 oranges. What should I do with these. I can only throw in three directions (actually throwing the oranges). If you are a millionaire, so I am. Do not forget. If you are a billionaire, so I am. Till I leave this Parish, don’t you dare forget this. Do you think I am a beggar by donating only 3 oranges? Never in your life you should forget this.”
The Roman Catholic across the world is divided geographically into dioceses, each of which are ministered to by a Bishop. A Diocese has more than 100 parishes on average, each of which would have 10,000-20,000 flock, ministered to by a Parish Priest. Further, units of 20-50 families are organised as an ANPIAM (Animating New Pastoral Integral Approach Mission) known colloquially in Tamil as an Anbiam. The Anbiam is the smallest unit of the Catholic church in Tamil Nadu. Specific services are to be managed by an ANBIAM, to be managed by the families in this group. It also appears that these families are expected to contribute to the running of the Church financially also.
The Tuticorin Diocese is no stranger to controversy. In a video that went viral earlier, a priest who resembles Fr. Silvester Fernando M., Parish Priest of St.Charles’ Church, Subbiahpuram, Thoothukudi is seemingly so heavily under the influence of intoxicants that he is unable to officiate at a wedding.
Earlier, the Bishop of Tuticorin Diocese, Rt Rev Yvon Ambroise, now Bishop Emeritus of Tuticorin Diocese, was charged with aiding politically inspired protests at Koodankulam, using money remitted by organizations overseas.
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