Dear Friends,
We would like to send you a copy of the 19th open letter sent by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) to the Jesuit superior general in Rome regarding Fr. Pallath’s case.
Readers are encouraged to write to the Jesuit superior general and call for an inquiry into Fr. Pallath’s case.
For further information, including this letter and all details abut the case, please visit http://jjpallath.ahrchk.net.
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission
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19TH OPEN LETTER TO JESUIT SUPERIOR
(This is the 19th of a series of letters on the issues regarding the treatment of Fr. Pallath J. Joseph of the Kerala Province of Jesuits in India.)
March 13, 2002
An Open Letter to:
Rev. Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach
Superior General
Curia Generalize
Compagnia di Gesu
C.P. 6139
00195 Roma Prati ITALY
FAX: 39-06-686-8214
19TH OPEN LETTER RE: Physical Assault, Slander through the Gutter Press, Filing of Fabricated Criminal Cases, Denial of Right to Livelihood and Other Matters Relating to Fr. Pallath J. Joseph REQUEST FOR AN INQUIRY: FORUM OF RELIGIOUS FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE AND THE MOST RESPECTED VOICE ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES IN INDIA, FORMER SUPREME COURT JUDGE V. R. KRISHNA AYER, CALL FOR AN INQUIRY; A PROPOSAL OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE PROVINCE MEET
Dear Rev. Fr. General,
While you have decided to keep silent and not respond to our letters, protests have come to you from your own organisation, including those from the Kerala Province Meet, which we reproduced in our 18th letter to you. Meanwhile, the Talking Point on our web site has also received many comments. A few that defend the Jesuit view are written in such foul language that they do no credit to the religious order they try to defend. However, many sober reflections on the issue are also posted there, like Justice Krishna Ayer¡¯s letter (reproduced in the 17th open letter), and others. We reproduce this time three other comments below that have been received on our web site.
“Yes, there is, indeed, a conspiracy of silence on the Pallath issue. Where have the progressive Jesuits gone? Where are the Samuel Ryans, the Paul Geruvieres, the Stan Lourduswamis, the Paul Valikandathils, the Dominic Georges, the P. D. Mathews, the Manuel Alphonses, the Leo Tagoresall gone. This is fair enough if you agree with the way that Fr. Pallath has been treated. Please show the courage then to stand up and be counted with the hierarchy; and by the same token, please also refute for us point by point the allegations of your own fellow Jesuit Fr. Kottukapilly about the illegality of the act of dismissal of Fr. Pallath.”
“For your silence is deafening!”
Suresh Joseph
Bhopal
“Some years ago I visited Sanskriti and was inspired by the life and activities of Fr. Joseph. Now I am surprised to read what has happened to him. From the contents seen so far, I feel that injustice has been done to him and that he has had no fair hearing or level playing field to explain his case. I appeal to all concerned, especially those in authority Jesuit superiors and the church authoritiesto provide him with a forum to find justice, reconciliation and peace. These are the values we need to uphold. It is high time the Church really practices what she has been preaching from the housetops and lately has been calling for a new way of being the Church in the 21st century. It is high time that such autocratic traditions are thrown overboard.”
Clarence Srambical
“I express my anguish over the manner in which Fr. Pallath has been treated. I have great regard for Fr. Pallath and his commitment to the cause of the underprivileged. It is shocking to see how barbaric and inhuman the Jesuit Society has become. It is one Catholic institution which I still had some respect for. However, I am beginning to lose any respect that I held for this institution, given such blatant violations of human rights. I am glad to know that AHRC has taken up this issue and is committed to pursuing it to its logical conclusion. I wrote e-mails to more than 500 Jesuit institutions around the world regarding this injustice, and I am amazed at the stolid silence that these supposedly progressive institutions are maintaining. Are there no Jesuits left who would like to stand up and protest against the power centres who perpetrate such blatant human rights violations? Has the Jesuit establishment around the world lost even its sense of natural justice? If there are any Jesuits worth their salt left, they should dismantle such hierarchies which have lost their sensitivity and sense of purpose and rebuild them all over again.”
Prerana Thomas
Once again, we urge you to respond positively to this call for an inquiry. Thank you for your further consideration to resolve Fr. Pallath¡¯s case.
