INDIA: Physical abuse, unfair dismissal, denial of right to livelihood and right reputation

UA-12-2001: Jesuit Priest abused by his own order – Case of Fr. P.J. Joseph S. J. 

INDIA (KERALA) – Physical abuse, unfair dismissal, denial of right to livelihood and right reputation 

The latest UPDATE for this appeal is available at: 
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2002/215/ | http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2002/199/ 
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2002/192/ | http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/166/ 
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/163/ | http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/154/ 
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/152/ | http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/148/ 
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/141/ | http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/136/ 
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/133/ | http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/129/ 
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/125/ | http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/121/ 
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/120/ | http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/119/ 
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/113/ | http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/111/ 
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/106/ | http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/101/ 
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2001/96/ 

A Jesuit priest of 33 years in Kerala, India has been dismissed without justifiable reasons, physically assaulted and left without any means of livelihood. The reason for such abuse was some criticisms made by him of some persons of his order. 

Fr. P.J. Joseph was a Jesuit priest for 33 years and reputed anthropologist who has written extensively on culture and religion. He opted for justice ministry in his order with the permission of his superiors. Below is his letter explaining the incident. The facts of the case have been verified by the AHRC. 

Yesterday (24-04-2001) AHRC issued a statement to all our networks on this case. The statement consisting of two parts contains two documents explaining in details the circumstances of this case. Following urgent appeal is based on those documents. Other documents will be soon available at a website dedicated to this case which will be available through AHRC Web-site. We urge every one to take an active interest in this matter. 

THE COMPLAINT OF FR. P.J. Joseph S.J., FROM THE JESUIT PROVINCE OF KERALA, INDIA 

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received a complaint from Fr. P.J. Joseph. The letters containing the complaint are attached herein. He complains of inhuman treatment, unfair dismissal, physical assault and other forms of physical harassment, blackmail through gutter press and many other forms of abuse and violation of rights. Beside these complaints, AHRC is also in possession of many other documents relating to this matter, including articles and letters written by other priests in support of Fr. P.J. Joseph’s claims. 

AHRC’s representatives were introduced to Fr. P.J. Joseph in Kerala by other priests. After interviewing him and several other priests, AHRC is satisfied that the facts narrated in the complaints are authentic. AHRC also became aware that in Kerala these incidents are well known and media had given considerable publicity to the events. There are also several court cases related to these incidents now before courts. 

In AHRC’s view there are several issues of human rights violations involved in the case. They are: 

– Right to life of a person who has given 33 years of his life to work as a Jesuit; 
– Ambiguous nature of allegations against him and lack of serious and morally defendable investigations; 
– Physical assault and throwing away of the body by persons under the direction and direct supervision of two Jesuit superiors; 
– Use of gutter press for blackmail and damage his reputation; 
– Dishonoring the agreement entered into between Fr. P.J. Joseph and the Society of Jesus as a result of intervention by a bishop; and 
– Poor quality of human relations shown and the nature of dispute settlement methods used by his order in these incidents. 

AHRC urges the Jesuit Superior General in Rome 

?To initiate an open inquiry into all these matters with full representation given to Fr. P.J. Joseph; 
?While the inquiry is taking place, to honour the conditions of the agreement entered into between Fr. P.J. Joseph and the Society of Jesus on 28 October with the intervention of Bishop of Calicut; The conditions were (i) Jesuit Provincial gets for Fr. Joseph incardination either in Calicut or Kannur dioceses where he worked 25 out of his 33 years as a religious in order facilitate his present work. (ii) to find him accommodation either in a Jesuit house or in a semi-Jesuit house in Malabar region. (iii) to give maintenance till his appeal cases given in the ecclesiastical as well as in the civil courts are heard (iv) to withdraw the false police cases they have filed against him; 
?To especially inquire into the complaints regarding physical abuse and take appropriate action against those who have committed them. (These person have been named by Fr. P.J. Joseph in his letter) and compensate Fr. P.J. Joseph for such physical and psychological abuse; 
?To ensure the means for livelihood for Fr. P.J. Joseph; 
?To take appropriate actions to prevent such occurrences in the future. 

AHRC is aware that the incidents mentioned here may disturb some persons, particularly from the West, who may be shocked to find such behavior from persons in such a reputed religious order. As AHRC has extensive experience in South Asia, it is not surprised by these events. Unfortunately, Catholic Clergy had adopted many aspects of the dominant model of priesthood in the region, which is Brahminism. Brahminism, which created the Caste system of India, has always used extreme forms of abuse against its opponents. Even throwing human excreta and urine on them was common. In fact, in 1989 the Indian government passed The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 to forbid such activities. AHRC is however sad to see a repetition of such type of behavior. If some progress can be achieved in this case it may become useful in establishing more humane dealings among religious and priests, with full respect for human rights and human dignity. 

SUGGESTED ACTION 

We request you to write to the Superior General of the Jesuits in Rome expressing your concern regarding this matter. 

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER