CNI’s new moderator ready to crack whip on corruption

New Delhi – In the wake of the recent charges of corruption within the administration of the Church of North India (CNI), Bishop Joel V. Mal, its new moderator, has expressed that he is all set to tackle the problem and root it out.

Of late, CNI was beleaguered by allegations of corruption, fraud, property disputes and infighting especially in cities like Mumbai and Kolkata.

Bishop Mal, who was elected uncontested as moderator of the CNI recently, is now ready to crack the whip.

The Church he represents is organised along 26 dioceses in the country with 580 schools, 61 hospitals and 17 colleges including Delhi’s prestigious St Stephen’s college.

His first job now would be to bring back the glory to his organisation. Especially since the annual report (2004–05) published recently by its Mumbai based affiliate St. Andrews’ Marathi Church and Undeclared Emergency, a 20 page booklet authored by its Chhattisgarh based member, Rajendra K Sail, show how corruption had tainted some of its members.

For instance, it says two CNI members have been accused of forging documents to sell properties of the St. Francis Church in Panvel (Navi) Mumbai and St. Crispins Home in Pune.

It also alleged that Rs. 68 lakh granted to the CNI’s Bombay Diocesan Trust Association by the Church abroad for maintenance of its properties in the country have been siphoned off.

In another instance, it stated, a former moderator and Bishop of Chotanagpur has leased out two acres near the Ranchi Railway station to Alpha Builders who built two multi–storey apartments blocks.

During the CNI’s five–day Synod which ended with the appointment of Bishop Mal as the moderator, Sail was one of 150–odd members who had gathered from across the country to protest.

They are running a campaign—'People’s Synod'—demanding transparency in the functioning of its clerics.

"We are playing the role of opposition within the Church to make its functionaries accountable," said Sail.

When contacted, Bishop Mal said, "The Synod has decided to set up its own three–tier judiciary. If any specific case of corruption is brought to its notice, it will be tried and settled internally."