Kerala News: Catholic Church Suspends Priest For Taking BJP Membership In Idukki

A Catholic priest in Kerala has been temporarily removed as the vicar of the St Thomas Catholic Church in Idukki district after he took membership of the BJP on Monday. The Idukki diocese of Syro Malabar Catholic Church has formed a Commission to look into the matter and asked Ft Rev Kuriakose Mattem to appear before it, clarifying his decision of joining the saffron party.

The 62-year-old priest after joining BJP said that he did not agree with the common belief that the BJP is not the party for Christians. He said that he had attended a Marxist party meeting 40-45 years ago and considered joining the BJP as a similar act. 

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"Even though I am an old man, updated in day to day affairs. I don't think the BJP is a party that Christians can not join. I don't have membership in any political party. I had understood about the working of BJP in Kerala following which I joined them,’’ Kuriakose Mattem said as quoted by news agency ANI.

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The Church spokesperson said that the Church premises cannot be used for party work. Meanwhile, the Idukki unit of BJP claimed that this is the first time a Catholic priest in Kerala has joined their party, where Christians constitute about 18 per cent of the state’s 3.30 crore population. The party workers said that they welcomed Mattem into the party and it is his own decision.