Children suffer as priests, nuns squabble over property
By Jessy Joseph and Ritu Sharma
New Delhi:
Strained relation between priests and nuns has forced children of Delhi archdiocese’s oldest parish to study catechism in the open braving scorching summer heat.
The tribal woman said some 150 children were forced to study in the open after the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary nuns demolished a hall the parish used to take catechism classes.
The nuns, who manage a school and a convent in the church compound, said they demolished the hall a month ago to demarcate their area from the parish property.
Children forced to study in the open after the Presentation nuns demolished a hall the parish used to take catechism classes. Posted on May 22, 2012, 4:37 PM
By Jessy Joseph and Ritu Sharma
New Delhi:
Strained relation between priests and nuns has forced children of Delhi archdiocese’s oldest parish to study catechism in the open braving scorching summer heat.
The tribal woman said some 150 children were forced to study in the open after the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary nuns demolished a hall the parish used to take catechism classes.
Sister Asha Jacob, superior of the convent, said relation between the priests and nuns was strained some five years ago for unknown reasons.
However, Fr. Cirilo F Rodrigues, parish priest during 2004-2011, said an uneasy relation between the two groups started many years ago.
The nuns set up the school in 1939.
According to Fr. Rodrigues, the two groups could not reach a solution even after 16 recent meetings under Bishop Vincent Concessao of Delhi and vicar general Fr. Victor D’Souza.
The archdiocese had given the parish hall to the nuns to use it for educational purpose. Father Rodrigues asserted the entire land belongs to the archdiocese and the nuns “do not own even a single inch.”
Sister Lizzy Mathew, a member of the provincial team, said they demolished the hall as part of an agreement her provincial signed with the archbishop in August 2011.
“Obediently, religiously and with great inconvenience, we had to do (demolish the hall) what was asked from us,” told ucanindia.in.
Sister Mathew said the nuns have no intention to make the children suffer. “We are ready to give our classrooms for catechism, but the priest should approach us in a proper way,” she added.
However, Minj said the nuns are concerned only about their school and have little concern for the parishioners.
Paul Naresh, another parishioner, agreed and said the priest-nun squabble is against “our religion.” He said that the parishioners would have paid for the upkeep of the hall.
Archbishop Concessao said that the two sides had not brought up the issue of catechism classes during the meetings.
“They have to take responsibility and explore possibilities of finding an alternate place for the classes,” he told ucaindia.in.
The prelate said papers from the Delhi municipal corporation clarify that the land where the hall stood belonged to the church. He also said his agreement with the provincial had allowed the demolition of the hall and putting up a boundary wall.
Sister Mathew and current pastor, Fr. Mathew Koyickal, say they want an amicable solution.
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