Some
Commonly Propagated Falsehoods
There are some people within Kerala
and many more vocal ones outside who are unkind to the Knanaya tradition of endogamy. Also, it is not a secret that
there are many, both laymen and clergy, who are very unfriendly towards the
existence of the arch eparchy of Kottayam. These oppositions are becoming more
and more conspicuous. During the past few decades, these people have held
parades and processions in protest and convened public meetings and seminars to
propagate their dissenting views. They have actively recruited speakers and
writers to speak and write on their behalf. Besides, for years they have been
sending written petitions to various authorities in Rome seeking reversal of
the status quo. The much publicized Biju Uthup case in Kerala served to
highlight their cause to some extent. Lately, it is learnt that many exogamous
Knanites have filed lawsuits in lower courts challenging the legal validity of
the Knanaya traditions that govern our aged old and Church approved practices.
Against this backdrop, it behooves
every caring Knanite to become knowledgeable about the facts and the framework
in which our community and diocese function. Creating a smokescreen or fog of
falsehoods and suspicions may lead many uninformed and otherwise innocent
people into believing that Knanites are ‘unchristian’ in both our attitude and actions.
Let facts speak for themselves. Be well informed so we can explain our stand
when need arises. Hence this article.
This
is totally untrue; not even a single such case exists. What usually happens is
this: Any Knanite who decides to marry from outside applies for permission to
leave the diocese (PLEK) because a non-knanite cannot be included as a
parishioner. (Our diocese was erected exclusively for Southists per the papal
bull.) Anybody and everybody are welcome in all our parishes to meet individual
spiritual needs.
2 2. Non-inclusion
of an exogamous Knanite and his/her spouse in Kottayam is against Christian
doctrines/biblical teachings.
Membership is
what cannot be granted. Spiritual needs are taken care of whenever requested.
Canonically it is legal to have parishes based on rite, language, nationality,
or some other basis. (Knanites are of Iraqi-Judeo Christian descent.) It is
also exempt from the territorial rule, that is, geographical boundaries. In
1990, Pope John Paul II promulgated a special Code of Canon to safeguard and
promote the unique or specific features of the Eastern heritage. This is a
safeguard Kottayam must make use of as much as any other diocese. Apostolic
tradition shows that there were Jewish Christians, Gentile Christians, etc.
Everyone that embraced Jesus’ good news did become Jewish Christians. Jewish
Catholics in Israel now has their own diocese.
Endogamy is a
matter of personal choice made freely and willingly. Any obstruction is a
violation of the US Constitution. The practice of endogamy is a 16 plus century
old tradition. A tradition with at least 30 years of continuous practice
enjoys the force of law. Setting up qualifications for membership in a club,
community, etc. is a common practice. Being born of both Knanaya parents is the
‘raison d’etre’ [mainspring] and consecutive principle for membership in the
Knanaya community. Also, the characterization that observance of endogamy
amounts to promoting Manu’s Code on the caste system is incorrect.
No credible or
well-informed Knanite will ever make such a claim. Many non-knanites having
experienced the warmth, hospitality, love and generosity displayed by Knanites
have on many instances, attributed that as the reason for our previously
mentioned bits of behavior.
Also no one has
ever advanced “preserving the purity of blood” as justification for the practice
of endogamy.
A very poor
description of a man with a myriad of talents. Yes, by profession/ business
Knai Thommen was a trader who did that between the East and the Middle East
before he undertook the leadership for the 400 strong missionary group. Unlike
the army that accompanied the European traders from Portugal, France, and
England to India, his group did comprise of a bishop and some clergy. What he
was doing was obliging the request of his bishop in Uraha (Edessa). Once
settled in Kerala, he did more for his people, other Christians, and some
patriotic acts for the emperor.
In terms of
evangelical work, Knanaya people have always been in the forefront both outside
Kerala and abroad. Today, missionary work is not necessarily conversion to
Christianity; it is conversion of the mind based on the ‘Good News’ Jesus gave
us.
We now have
three bishops serving outside of Kerala. There are 172 diocesan priests and 352
missionary priests as per 2008 statistics.
A Truth Never
Fully Revealed
Each and every Knanite, male or
female, who chose a spouse outside our community, did so very willingly and
deliberately after seeking permission in writing, to leave our fold. In
general, the factors that favored that choice may be emotional (love) and/or
economic (acquiring increased assets, opportunity to go abroad—USA, UK, etc.)
Not a single one did so because he/she strongly believed that endogamy as
practiced is ‘unchristian’ and wanted to lodge his/her protest vehemently.
Paradoxically, however, they are eager to enjoy the best of both the
worlds—emotional/material gains from marriage and Knanaya membership. This will
very easily explain the reason for all this commotion.
Let
me make an appeal for understanding. Even before Kottayam diocese was erected,
Southists have enjoyed parishes set aside specifically for them with priests
from their own community. Therefore, the resistance posed by Southists against
inclusion of exogamous Knanites and their families in Kottayam, thereby violating
the original Papal fram work for their diocese, is legitimate and therefore
calls for tolerance on the part of others.
Alex Mapleton
Mr. Mapleton follows the view of those who specialize in missing the forest for the trees when it comes to Knanaism. #4: Mapleton writes: "No one has ever advanced preserving the "purity of blood" as justification for the practice of endogamy". This is like saying no one has ever advanced the cause of "pulling the trigger" as justification for animal cruelty. What is the implied by-product of endogamy? The obvious answer does not fool anyone even for a minute. However, the forest that is glossed over in all this is the simple, straightforward untruth called the endogamous nature of this community upon which the whole bamboozle of conveniently deceptive arguments have been built that the Church and the community have come to embrace as "legitimate". Hitler's illusion of Aryan supremacy looks relatively tame compared to the deluded credulity of the advocates of the Knanaya identity. Yet they hesitate not to label those who question the porous premises, as "unkind". The irony is of Shakespearian proportions: "Yet, Brutus was a noble man".
ReplyDeleteI think you have done a great job in explaining some of the points. Kudos my friend!
ReplyDeleteWe reject Mr. Mapleton’s appeal for understanding because his appeal is based on falsehood. Although Mapleton claims himself an endogamous Kna, we have doubts. From his look and color, it appears that some of his ancestors might have married local Indians. If that is true, then Mapleton is not a Kna under the current definition, but he is called a Kna. That means endogamy is not the basis of Knanaya. Mapleton is Kna because he is related to Knanaya ancestors; he is one of their children. All the children of Knanaya ancestors are Knanaites whether they are endogamous, pure, mixed or adopted. This is the truth.
ReplyDeleteIf Mapletons of the Kna world accept this as the truth, then we will have an amicable solution. By issuing the 1986 Rescript, the Church has accepted this as the truth. In Biju Uthup case the Municif Court and Appeals Court in Kerala accepted this as the truth. My appeal to Mapleton is that try to understand this basic truth.
We can try to have as many endogamous marriages as possible, but exclusion of our children in the name endogamy is not acceptable, if they want to be included. And I am an endogamous Kna.
Good suggestion Mr Alex esthapan
ReplyDeleteIn United States in the year of (1986 Rescript) the Rome ordered knanaya catholic community to go under the administration of Chicago Syro malabar Archdiocese to estblish nonendogomous Syromalabar Knanaya Missions and start building Churches under the ownership of Chicago Syromalabar Archdiocese. Watch this youtube clip for further information from Chicago archdiocese Bishop Mar Angadiath.
ReplyDeletehttp://youtu.be/wSDPJYG3BjA .
There are lot of protest amoung the Knayana community after that rescript went to public in Dec 2012 through a letter to all the Knanaya churchs in United states by Bishop Mar Angadiath . On March 2013, thousands of Knanates marched towards Bishop Angadith residents in Chicago agnist the recent announcement of the rescrpit after 15 years of the orginal rescript .
http://youtu.be/CEOO2Ussw7U .
Posted on behalf of Mathew Toms