Pastors troubled by police crack down on 'faith healers'

Several Christian pastors in the state of Kerala, have been targets of police raids, after an investigation by the police led to the crackdown of a famous Hindu godman.

"We are not against any religion or spiritual leader. But we have received several complaints against many faith healers, who have mushroomed in the state," Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told UCA News

The minister further added that government wants to keep an eye on spiritual leaders who become "rich within a short period."

Last week, police raided the office and residence of Abraham Kuruvilla, a famous Christian who started Heavenly Feast Ministries in 1998. Since then, the two Pastors—the Thanku brothers—have stopped making personal appearances on the Heavenly Feast TV shows.

The ministry’s weekly Sunday prayer meetings in Kottayam, claims to gather more than 20,000 people. It boasts of 100,000 members from various religions.

A senior from the Heavenly Feast Ministries said the police raid does not bother them and that "it is all a media creation."

"If we have done anything wrong, let the law punish us. But the media is trying to tarnish our image among the public."

Also being investigated is Bishop KP Yohannan, who heads the Believers Church and also runs the Asian wing of the US–based Gospel for Asia, an evangelical organisation.

The Church owns vast properties, including schools, theological colleges and even rubber plantations. According to the Home Ministry's annual report on organisations receiving foreign contributions, Yohannan's organisation received more than Rs 130 crores in 2005–06, for charitable work.

Bishop Samuel Mathew, the group's second–highest official said the Believer's Church has 1.5 million followers in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

In India alone it also has more than 200 staff, who manage a seminary, Bible colleges and daily programs for around 43,000 children in 400 locations.

Bishop Mathew said his Church has nothing to hide and that it has cooperated with the police investigations and have also recorded all donations received.

The crackdown on spiritual leaders and "faith healers" began last month, after police arrested a Hindu godman Amritha Chaithanya alias Santosh Madhavan on fraud cases, and amassing illegal wealth.

Shockingly, police also recovered pornographic CD's from his lockers, which contained rape of regular believers and minor girls, in his 16–suite ashram in Kochi. Police alleged that the accused has links with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

The incident has led to the crackdown of several Hindu godmen, including Himaval Maheswarananda Bhadrananda, who tried to shoot at the media, during a police raid.

Talking to Christian Today, Pastor Abraham Kotaikal from the Revival Ministries in Kerala said, “The police are involving and investigating Christians due to the framed allegations of Hindu fundamentalists who are irked by the crackdown against many Hindi godmen.”

“It is a testing time, and the ministries in the state require prayers from all believers,” he added.