Kerala Bishop sparks controversy adopting 26–yr–old woman

The adoption of a 26–year–old woman by a Catholic Bishop in Kerala has sparked off a controversy, upsetting the Church in the state.

John Thattungal, the Bishop of Cochin, during a pilgrimage abroad was impressed by the woman's "spirituality and divine experience" that led him to her adoption. He adopted the woman with the permission of her Christian family, hailing from Pathanamthitta district in the state.

"I have only fatherly love towards the woman who has spiritual powers. This relation is giving me spiritual refreshment," Thattungal was quoted by Mathrubhoomi, a Malayalam newspaper, as saying.

Following complaints from priests and members of the parish, the Catholic Church has initiated a multi–level probe into the adoption by the Bishop.

A senior priest from Cochin diocese said the issue is likely to snowball into a major scandal. "The moot question is why the bishop adopted a young woman for so–called spiritual nourishment. The future course of the issue would depend on his explanation," the priest said.

The 58–year–old Bishop who holds a doctorate in Canon law and civil law, with the help of two diocese priests, cleared the adoption formalities and permitted the woman stay in a guest house within the Bishop House compound in Fort Kochi, which was opposed by a section of priests.

Says Fr Althara Stephen Secretary of Kerala Catholic Bishop's Council, Apostolic Nuncio to India Arch Bishop Pedro Lopez Quintaine (Vatican's representative in the country) and the Archdiocese of Verapoly has begun separate inquiries on the issue.

"A bishop can adopt a person while a priest has to get the consent of his bishop for the same action. In the past, no bishop in Kerala has resorted to this kind of adoption," Stephen said.

However says Bishop Thattungal, the adoption was according to the Church laws. "In the past too, bishops and priests have adopted children... She did not stay in the Bishop's House, she stayed in the nearby guest house along with her father. We had travelled by the same car for spiritual programmes. I have explained my stand to Verapoly Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil and Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pedro Lopez," he told Mathrubhoomi. "A lobby, including certain priests, has been working against me in the diocese," he said.