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{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Short description|Indian Catholic bishop (born 1956)}}
{{Neutrality|date=August 2024}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
{{Infobox Christian leader
| honorific-prefix = [[Mar]]
| honorific-prefix = [[Mar (title)|Mar]]
| name = Joseph Kallarangatt
| name = Joseph Kallarangatt
| honorific-suffix =  
| honorific-suffix =  
| title = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai|Bishop of Palai]]
| title = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai|Bishop of Palai]]  
| image = Mar_Joseph_Kallarangatt_Syro-Malabar_Bishop_of_Pala.jpg
| image = Mar Joseph Kallarangatt Syro-Malabar Bishop of Pala.jpg
| caption =  
| caption =  
| diocese = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai]]
| church = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]
| see = [[Pala, Kerala|Palai]]
| diocese =
| see = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai|Eparchy of Palai]]
| appointed = 18 March 2004
| ended =  
| ended =  
| predecessor = Joseph Pallikaparampil
| predecessor = [[Joseph Pallikaparampil]]
| successor = [[Incumbent]]
| successor =  
| other_post = Chairman of Syro-Malabar Synodal Commission for Family, Laity and Life
<!---------- Orders ---------->
 
| ordination = 2 January 1982
| ordination = 2 January 1982
| consecration = 2 May 2004 <br>by [[Joseph Powathil]]
| consecration = 2 May 2004
| rank =  
| rank = <!---------- Personal details ---------->
| birth_name =  
| birth_name =  
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1956|1|27}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1956|1|27}}
| birth_place = Kayyoor, [[Kottayam District]], [[Kerala]], India
| birth_place = Kayyoor, [[Kottayam District]], [[Kerala]], India
| religion = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]
| death_date =  
| parents =  
| death_place =  
| spouse =
| buried =  
| children =  
| occupation =  
| occupation =  
| profession =  
| previous_post =  
| alma_mater = St Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam; [[Gregorian University]], Rome
| education = [[Gregorian University]], Rome
| signature =  
| signature =  
| other_post = Chairman of Syro-Malabar Synodal Commission for Family, Laity and Life
| elected = <!-- 9 January 2024  -->
| motto = Duc in Altum
| consecrated_by = [[Joseph Powathil]], [[Varkey Vithayathil]], and [[Joseph Pallikaparampil]]
}}
}}
'''Joseph Kallarangatt''' (born 27 January 1956) is an Indian [[Catholic prelate]] and [[theologian]], who is the 3rd Bishop of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai]]. He was ordained as a priest in 1982, and was appointed as the Bishop of Palai after the resignation of Bishop Joseph Pallikaparambil in 2004. Following his appointment as a bishop he was able to gain considerable influence within the hierarchy of the [[Syro-Malabar Church]], an autonomous [[particular church|particular]] [[Eastern Catholic]] Church within the [[Catholic Church]] and has been regularly selected to participate in the conduction of various high-profile [[ecclesiastical]] ceremonies and duties of the Syro-Malabar Church.<ref name=":0" /> He was also appointed to head the [[Catholic doctrine|doctrinal]] commission for determining of the Catholic Church's stance towards [[Yoga]], which concluded that the practice was incompatible with the Christian faith.<ref name=":3" />
'''Joseph Kallarangatt''' (born 27 January 1956) is an [[India|Indian]] [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|bishop]] of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]] serving as the [[Bishop]] of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai|Eparchy of Palai]] since 2004 succeeding [[Joseph Pallikaparampil]].


Kallarangatt has been accused of using the love and narcotics jihad controversy as a distraction from the sexual assault and corruption allegations surrounding the Church and to forge an alliance with the [[Hindutva|Hindutva movement in India]], in an effort to prevent corruption investigations from agencies under the [[Narendra Modi]] government.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Valson|first=Thampu|date=4 October 2021|title=Politics by other means|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/politics-by-other-means-diversionary-tactics-like-love-jihad-or-narcotics-jihad-will-not-wash-anymore/cid/1833294|url-status=live|website=[[Telegraph India|The Telegraph]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Carvalho|first=Stanley|date=2021-09-27|title=Is the Kerala bishop playing rook for the Sangh Parivar?|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/in-perspective/is-the-kerala-bishop-playing-rook-for-the-sangh-parivar-1034856.html|url-status=live|website=[[Deccan Herald]]|language=en}}</ref>
Prior to Kallarangatt's ascent as bishop, he served in various roles in the Eparchy as well as in the Seminary including as the President of the Paurastya Vidyapitam in Vadavathoor. After his installation as Bishop, He serves as a Substitute Member of the Syro-Malabar Church's Permanent Synod and was the head of the church's [[doctrine|doctrinal]] commission.<ref name=":22" /><ref name=":0" />


== Early life and career ==
== Early life and career ==
Joseph Kallarangatt was born on 27 January 1956, in Kayyoor located in the [[Kottayam district]] of Kerala. After his schooling he joined Good Shepherd Minor [[Seminary]] Karoor,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Syro Malabar Church Bishop ::Mar Joseph Kallarangatt Bishop of Palai ::Palai Eparchy|url=http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/bishop.php?id=22|access-date=2021-11-08|website=www.syromalabarchurch.in}}</ref> Pala and continued his ecclesiastical studies at St Thomas Apostolic Seminary Vadavathoor, Kottayam.<ref name="Eparchy of Palai">{{Cite web|date=11 November 2021|title=Eparchy of Palai|url=https://www.palaidiocese.com/profile/16|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Eparchy of Palai|language=en}}</ref> He was [[ordained]] priest on 2 January 1982. Kallarangatt was an assistant vicar at [https://aruvithurapally.com/ St Goerge Forane Church, Aruvithura] and [http://www.staugustinesforanechurch.org/ St Augustine's Forane Church, Ramapuram.] Later he was sent to the [https://www.unigre.it/en/ Pontifical Gregorian University] in [[Rome]], [[Italy]] in 1984, from where he attained a [[Doctor of Sacred Theology|Doctorate in Sacred Theology]] (STD) in 1989. The doctoral dissertation titled "The Holy Spirit, Bond of Communion of the Churches: A Comparative Study of the Ecclesiology of Yves Congar and Nikos Nissiotis"<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kallarangatt|first=Joseph|title=The Holy Spirit, Bond of Communion of the Churches: A Comparative Study of the Ecclesiology of Yves Congar and Nikos Nissiotis|publisher=Pontificia Universitas Gregoriana, Roma|year=1989|location=Roma|pages=i|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kallarangatt|first=Joseph|date=9 November 2021|title=Most Widely Held Works by Joseph Kallarangatt|url=http://www.worldcat.org/identities/viaf-170561366/|url-status=live|access-date=9 November 2021|website=WorldCat Identities}}</ref> was directed by the renowned theologian [[Jacques Dupuis (Jesuit)|Jacques Dupuis]]. In 1990 he was appointed professor at [https://pvpkottayam.in/ Paurastya Vidyapitham] and [https://santhom.org/ St Thomas Apostolic Seminary Vadavathoor, Kottayam] and later in 2001 he was appointed the president of the Pontifical Oriental Institute of Religious Studies (Paurastya Vidyapitham), an autonomous Faulty of Theology erected by the [https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/orientchurch/index.htm Congregation for the Oriental Churches]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Paurastya Vidyāpīṭham|url=https://pvpkottayam.in/profile.html|access-date=2021-11-08|website=pvpkottayam.in}}</ref> and held the office until 2004.<ref name="Eparchy of Palai"/>
Joseph Kallarangatt was born on 27 January 1956, in Kayyoor located in the [[Kottayam district]] of Kerala. He received his education at a Catholic [[seminary]] in Palai and became an [[ordained]] priest on 2 January 1982. Kallarangatt was an assistant parish priest at the [[Aruvithura]] and [[Ramapuram, Kottayam|Ramapuram]] parishes until he was sent to the [[Gregorian University]] in [[Rome]], [[Italy]] in 1984, from where he attained a [[Doctor of Theology|doctorate in theology]] (ThD). Following his ThD, he became a teacher at a seminary in Vadavathoor and later the president of the Pontifical Oriental Institute of Religious Studies (Paurastya Vidyapitam), a theology institution of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]].<ref name=":22">{{Cite web|title=Bishop of Palai Diocese, Joseph Kallarangatt|url=https://www.ucanews.com/directory/bishops/bishop-kallarangatt/193|access-date=2021-09-20|website=[[Union of Catholic Asian News]]}}</ref>


== Pastoral ministry ==
== Pastoral ministry ==
=== Episcopacy ===
On 18 March 2004, Kallarangatt was appointed as the 3rd Bishop of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai]], succeeding Joseph Pallikaparambil. His [[Episcopal polity|episcopal]] consecration occurred on 2 May 2004 conducted by Archbishop of Changanacherry [[Joseph Powathil]] and his enthronement was conducted by [[List of leaders of the Syro-Malabar Church|Major Archbishop]] [[Varkey Vithayathil]].<ref name=":22" /> The [[diocese]] (eparchy) of Palai has the largest concentration of Syro-Malabar Catholics in Kerala.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Varma|first=Vishnu|date=2021-09-21|title=Explained: Kerala Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt and the row behind his 'love and narcotic jihad' theory|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-kerala-bishop-mar-joseph-kallarangatt-love-and-narcotic-jihad-theory-row-7522619/|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en}}</ref>
The 31st plenary meeting of the CBCI was held at Alphonsian Pastoral Institute Pala from 5 to 12 February 2014 under the patronage of Joseph Kallarangatt as the local host.<ref>{{Cite web|title=H. E. Mar Joseph Kallarangatt|url=https://www.palaidiocese.com/profile/16|access-date=19 November 2021|website=Eparchy of Palai}}</ref>
Kallarangatt acted as the co-consecrator of [[Joseph Srampickal]] as the first bishop of the newly founded Syro-Malabar eparchy of Great Britain. The 2016 ceremony was led by [[Major Archbishop]] [[George Alencherry]] in [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]], [[United Kingdom]]. Srampickal, a priest from Palai was appointed by [[Pope Francis]] as the bishop-elect to the newly founded diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite news|date=29 July 2016|title=Kerala's Syro-Malabar Catholics get new diocese in UK|work=[[The News Minute]]|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/keralas-syro-malabar-catholics-get-new-diocese-uk-47263}}</ref> He assisted in the 2017 consecration of [[Thomas Tharayil (archbishop of Changanassery)|Thomas Tharayil]] as the auxiliary bishop to the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanacherry]] led by the Archbishop of Changanacherry, [[Joseph Perumthottam]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-04-23|title=Mar Tharayil ordained auxiliary bishop|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/mar-tharayil-ordained-auxiliary-bishop/article18196184.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
===Theological and doctrinal stance===
In early 2018, Kallarangatt headed a [[doctrinal]] committee of the church, which produced a report concluding that the religious interpretation of [[yoga]] was incompatible with Christian beliefs. The report stated that yoga could be practised for health benefits but to interpret results from it as spiritual benefits had far reaching and dangerous consequences.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=4 April 2018|title=Yoga and Christian beliefs cannot go together: Catholic Church|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/yoga-and-christian-beliefs-cannot-go-together-catholic-church-1.2719417|website=[[Mathrubhumi]]|location=[[Mananthavady]]|language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Syro-Malabar Rite of Renewal of Malka by bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt.webm|thumb|Rite of Renewal of the [[Holy Leaven|Holy ''Malka'']] officiated by Joseph Kallarangatt]]


=== 2004–2018: Rise to prominence ===
He is one of the prominent bishops who is staunch adherent to the traditions, liturgical and ritual peculiarities of the Syro-Malabar Church. He is an expert in Syriac language and theology and is known to be the only Syro-Malabar bishop who is capable of celebrating the [[Holy Qurbana]] in Syriac.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jose |first=Sabu |date=2022-01-02 |title=Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt: A shepherd who live Gospel in its fullness |url=https://mangalavartha.com/mv-bishop-joseph-kallarangatt-a-shepherd-who-live-gospel-in-its-fullness/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=മംഗള വാർത്ത |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AP 15 - Interview with Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt (Bishop of Palai, Kerala), the only bishop in India who celebrates the Solemn Qurbana in Syriac. |url=https://newproduction.christianmusicologicalsocietyofindia.com/aramaic-project/interviews-and-performances/ap-11-to-20/interview-with-bishop-joseph-kallarangatt-bishop-of-palai-kerala-the-only-bishop-in-india-who-celebrates-the-solemn-qurbana-in-syriac |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=newproduction.christianmusicologicalsocietyofindia.com}}</ref>
On 18 March 2004, Kallarangatt was appointed as the 3rd Bishop of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai]], after the resignation of Bishop Joseph Pallikaparambil. His [[Episcopal polity|episcopal]] consecration occurred on 2 May 2004 conducted by Archbishop of Changanacherry [[Joseph Powathil]] and his enthronement was conducted by [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] [[Varkey Vithayathil]].<ref name=":22">{{Cite web|title=Bishop of Palai Diocese, Joseph Kallarangatt|url=https://www.ucanews.com/directory/bishops/bishop-kallarangatt/193|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-20|website=[[Union of Catholic Asian News]]}}</ref> Later he also received an appointed to the chairmanship of the Synodal Commission for Family, [[Laity]] and Life. The [[diocese]] (eparchy) of Palai has the largest concentration of Syro-Malabar Catholics in Kerala, from where Kallarangatt's clout in the Church grew considerably and he became known as an authority on [[theology]], eventually authoring 30 books on the subject.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Varma|first=Vishnu|date=2021-09-21|title=Explained: Kerala Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt and the row behind his 'love and narcotic jihad' theory|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-kerala-bishop-mar-joseph-kallarangatt-love-and-narcotic-jihad-theory-row-7522619/|url-status=live|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en}}</ref>


The 31st Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) was hosted by the Eparchy of Palai from 05-12 February 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 February 2014|title=Indian bishops commit to renewal of Church, society|url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/29013/indian-bishops-commit-to-renewal-of-church-society|url-status=live|access-date=12 November 2021|website=Catholic News Agency}}</ref> The assembly was deliberated on the theme "Renewed Church for a Renewed Society- Responding to the Call of the Vatican II" and it was officially opened on February 4, with concelebrated Eucharist presided over by [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bpenn.html Archbishop Salvatore Pennachio],<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 November 2021|title=31st Plenary assembly Study and Discuss Renewal of Church and Society|url=https://www.cbci.in/detail_Slide.aspx?id=157|url-status=live|access-date=12 November 2021|website=Catholic Bishops' Conference of India}}</ref> the then [https://www.apostolicnunciatureindia.com/ Apostolic Nuncio to India] at [https://www.stcp.ac.in/ St Thomas College] ground Pala.
=== Controversies ===
{{Unbalanced section|date=August 2024}}
In early September 2018, a Catholic nun lodged a complaint against the then incumbent [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Jalandhar|Bishop of Jalandhar]] [[Franco Mulakkal]], accusing him of rape. Five of her fellow nuns of her congregation, the [[Missionaries of Jesus]], began protests over inaction, saying that her repeated complaints to various authorities in the church hierarchy since 2017 had elicited no response.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|last=Konikkara|first=Aathira|date=26 September 2018|title=He prayed like a holy man as she shed tears: Bishop Franco Mulakkal and a nun's fight for justice|url=https://caravanmagazine.in/gender-sexuality/bishop-franco-mulakkal-kerala-nun-rape-case-protests|website=[[The Caravan]]|language=en}}</ref> Bishop Kallarangatt was allegedly one of the first church authorities she had confided to back in June 2017.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite news|date=2018-07-14|title=Nun complained to me: Pala bishop|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/nun-complained-to-me-pala-bishop/article24422306.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> During the police investigation, he was brought in for questioning and he stated that the nun had only made a verbal complaint with him that the "atmosphere in the convent was not pleasant and that she was under stress". In response he advised her to inform the heads of her church.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-07-15 |title=Nun told me about her ordeal at convent: Pala bishop to sleuths |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/nun-told-me-about-her-ordeal-at-convent-pala-bishop-to-sleuths/articleshow/64993209.cms |access-date=2024-10-02 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref name=":12" /> Mulakkal was later arrested in September 2018 and the Palai diocese extended its support for him.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=John|first=Haritha|date=2021-09-17|title=The right turn by a section of Kerala's Catholic church is sheer opportunism|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/right-turn-section-kerala-s-catholic-church-sheer-opportunism-155406|website=[[The News Minute]]|language=en}}</ref> In January 2022, Mulakkal was acquitted of all charges related to the case.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nun rape case: Court acquits Bishop Franco Mulakkal of all charges |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/01/14/nun-rape-case-franco-mulakkal-verdict.html |access-date=19 June 2022 |work=[[Malayala Manorama]] |date=14 January 2022 |archive-date=14 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114021144/https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2022/01/14/nun-rape-case-franco-mulakkal-verdict.html |url-status=live }}</ref>"


Bishop Kallarangatt was one of the nineteen participants from South Asia in the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (07-28 October 2012) which dealt with the theme "New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith."<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 June 2012|title=19 Participants from South Asia in the Synod of Bishops|url=http://www.archivioradiovaticana.va/storico/2012/10/06/19_participants_from_south_asia_in_synod_of_bishops/in2-627664|url-status=live|access-date=12 November 2021|website=Vatican Radio}}</ref> In the [https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/index.htm XIV Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops] (04-25 October 2015) which handled the topic "Family in the Life of the Church and Society," Bishop Kallarangatt was one of the eight members of the Indian hierarchy who attended the Synod with voting right.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pope Francis Inaugurates the Synod on Family|url=https://www.cbci.in/detail_Slide.aspx?id=207|url-status=live|access-date=12 November 2021|website=Catholic Bishops' Council of India}}</ref>  
In July 2021, as part of the "Year of the Family" celebrations, the Palai diocese devised a welfare scheme seeking to increase birth rates among Catholic women by offering financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month, admissions with scholarships at the church-run [[St. Joseph's College of Engineering and Technology, Palai]] and free medical facilities for every child born after the 4th child of couples married post 2000.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news|date=2021-07-27|title=Pala diocese plans more sops for large families|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=[[Kottayam]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/pala-diocese-announces-more-sops-for-large-families/article35562626.ece|access-date=2021-09-24|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The announcement of the scheme by Kallarangatt caused controversy but he defended it, stating that he stood by the scheme and that it was announced to support large families facing financial difficulties due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. He further stated that they would begin taking applications and will be able to provide benefits from August onwards.<ref name=":32">{{Cite web|date=27 July 2021|title=Catholic church in Kerala announces welfare scheme for families to have more children|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/catholic-church-in-kerala-announces-welfare-scheme-for-families-to-have-more-children-1.5862066|website=[[Mathrubhumi]]|location=[[Kottayam]]|language=en}}</ref> Critics from within the Syro-Malabar community and elsewhere described it as an unethical and immoral scheme created for petty political gains and as interference in the sexual lives of married couples by unmarried clergy.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|date=28 July 2021|title=Indian bishop's promotion of large families sparks controversy|url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/indian-bishops-promotion-of-large-families-sparks-controversy/93486|website=[[Union of Catholic Asian News]]|language=en}}</ref> The scheme of the Palai Bishop was followed by an announcement from the Church that extended free of cost [[neonatal]] care to women giving birth to their fourth child in Church run hospitals, and scholarships for the fourth and subsequent children of families who get admitted at Church run engineering colleges.<ref name=":32" />


On 28 August 2016, Kallarangatt was sent to [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]], [[United Kingdom]] along with Cardinal and [[Major Archbishop]] [[George Alencherry]], the head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church to adorne [[Joseph Srampickal]] with the insignia of [[Episcopacy]]. Srampickal, a priest from Palai was appointed by [[Pope Francis]] as the bishop-elect to the newly founded diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite news|date=29 July 2016|title=Kerala's Syro-Malabar Catholics get new diocese in UK|work=[[The News Minute]]|agency=[[Press Trust of India]]|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/keralas-syro-malabar-catholics-get-new-diocese-uk-47263}}</ref> He was also designated to act as the co-celebrant along with former Archbishop Powathil for the ordination ceremony of [[Thomas Tharayil]]'s appointment as the auxiliary bishop to the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanacherry]]. The ceremony was held on 23 April 2017 and presided over by the Archbishop of Changanacherry, [[Joseph Perumthottam]] who acted as the principal celebrant.<ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2017-04-23|title=Mar Tharayil ordained auxiliary bishop|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/mar-tharayil-ordained-auxiliary-bishop/article18196184.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In early 2018, Kallarangatt headed a [[doctrinal]] committee of the Church, which produced a report concluding that the practice of [[Yoga]] was incompatible with Christian beliefs. The report stated that Yoga could be practised for health benefits but to interpret results from it as spiritual benefits had far reaching and dangerous consequences.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=4 April 2018|title=Yoga and Christian beliefs cannot go together: Catholic Church|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/yoga-and-christian-beliefs-cannot-go-together-catholic-church-1.2719417|url-status=live|website=[[Mathrubhumi]]|location=[[Mananthavady]]|language=en}}</ref>
==== 2021 Love and narcotics jihad controversy ====
On 8 September 2021, Kallarangatt sparked a major controversy during a sermon at [[Kuravilangad Church]], when he claimed that "[[love jihad]]" was real and that there was also a "narcotics jihad" targeting youths by radicals as a means of indirect war to annihilate the non-Muslim population. He described "narcotics jihad" as being present in places such as [[ice cream parlour]]s, juice corners, [[rave parties]], and hotels. Kallarangatt claimed these places led to youths becoming trapped into drug addiction.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 September 2021|title=Kerala bishop claims Muslims have launched 'narcotics jihad', faces criticism|url=https://scroll.in/latest/1005116/muslims-are-getting-others-addicted-to-drugs-claims-kerala-bishop-calls-it-narcotic-jihad|website=[[Scroll.in]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Philip|first=Shaju|date=2021-09-10|title=Non-Muslims are targets of 'narcotic jihad': Kerala bishop|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/non-muslims-are-targets-of-narcotic-jihad-kerala-bishop-7499908/|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en}}</ref> The remarks attracted immediate, widespread commentary and mixed reception, even from within the Christian community.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Krishnakumar|first=R.|date=8 October 2021|title=Pulpit polemics: Bishop's homily on 'narcotic jehad' catches Kerala by surprise|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/communalism/pulpit-polemics/article36535496.ece|website=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]|language=en}}</ref>  


=== 2018–2021: Controversies in the Church ===
Representatives and members of the non-Catholic Christian churches were more vocal in their opposition, though there were also some disapproving responses from the [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Church]] and the Latin Church in India.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Dayal|first=John|date=17 September 2021|title=Internally bleeding Indian church too weak to face challenges|url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/internally-bleeding-indian-church-too-weak-to-face-challenges/94177|website=[[Union of Catholic Asian News]]|language=en}}</ref> Metropolitan [[Theodosius Mar Thoma]], the head of the [[Mar Thoma Syrian Church]], openly derided Kallarangatt for attempting to aggravate communal divisions in Kerala.<ref name=":6" /> Bishop [[Yuhanon Meletius]] of the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]] and Bishop [[Coorilose Geevarghese]] of the [[Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church]], both part of [[Oriental Orthodoxy]] also expressed the strongest condemnations stating that Kallarangatt had fallen into the design of the [[Sangh Parivar]] and was creating divisions among minorities with conspiracy theories at a time of growing [[fascism]] in India which threatened all of them.<ref name=":5" />  
In early September 2018, the Church became the subject of a major controversy after a group of nuns led protests over inaction against Bishop [[Franco Mulakkal]], accused of having raped and sexually exploited a nun multiple times over a period of 2 years. The nun was complaining to various authorities in the Church hierarchy since 2017 but it had elicited no response. She eventually lodged a police complaint against Mulakkal on 28 June 2018, the protesting nuns stated that Mulakkal had powerful supporters within the Church.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|last=Konikkara|first=Aathira|date=26 September 2018|title=He prayed like a holy man as she shed tears: Bishop Franco Mulakkal and a nun's fight for justice|url=https://caravanmagazine.in/gender-sexuality/bishop-franco-mulakkal-kerala-nun-rape-case-protests|url-status=live|website=[[The Caravan]]|language=en}}</ref> Bishop Kallarangatt was one of the first Church authorities she had confided to back in June 2017.<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2018-07-14|title=Nun complained to me: Pala bishop|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/nun-complained-to-me-pala-bishop/article24422306.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> During the police investigation, he was brought in for questioning and stated that the nun had only made a verbal complaint with him and not a written one.<ref name=":12" /> Mulakkal was later arrested in September 2018 and the Palai diocese extended its support for him.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=John|first=Haritha|date=2021-09-17|title=The right turn by a section of Kerala's Catholic church is sheer opportunism|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/right-turn-section-kerala-s-catholic-church-sheer-opportunism-155406|url-status=live|website=[[The News Minute]]|language=en}}</ref>


On 3 February 2020, Kallarangatt presided over the consecration function for Jose Pulickal's appointment as the 4th Bishop of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kanjirappally]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-02-03|title=Mar Pulickal consecrated as bishop|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=[[Kottayam]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/mar-pulickal-consecrated-as-bishop/article30729173.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In July 2021, as part of the "Year of the Family" celebrations, the Palai diocese devised a welfare scheme seeking to increase birth rates among Catholic women by offering financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month, admissions with scholarships at the Church run [[St. Joseph's College of Engineering and Technology, Palai]] and free medical facilities for every child born after the 4th child of couples married post 2000.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news|date=2021-07-27|title=Pala diocese plans more sops for large families|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|location=[[Kottayam]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/pala-diocese-announces-more-sops-for-large-families/article35562626.ece|access-date=2021-09-24|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The announcement of the scheme by Kallarangatt caused controversy but he defended it, stating that he stood by the scheme and that it was announced to support large families facing financial difficulties due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. He further stated that they would begin taking applications and will be able to provide benefits from August onwards.<ref name=":32">{{Cite web|date=27 July 2021|title=Catholic church in Kerala announces welfare scheme for families to have more children|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/catholic-church-in-kerala-announces-welfare-scheme-for-families-to-have-more-children-1.5862066|url-status=live|website=[[Mathrubhumi]]|location=[[Kottayam]]|language=en}}</ref> It was criticised for ignoring the large population boom in India and for going against the existent two-child norm in Kerala, the critics from within the Syro-Malabar community described it as an unethical and immoral scheme created for petty political gains and as interference in the sexual lives of married couples by unmarried clergy.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Das|first=Wimal Mary|date=2021-07-27|title=Pregnancy package of Indian Catholic Church, sparks controversy|url=https://www.laity4justice.com/post/pregnancy-package-of-indian-catholic-church-sparks-controversy-in-india|url-status=live|website=SMGLJT|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|date=28 July 2021|title=Indian bishop's promotion of large families sparks controversy|url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/indian-bishops-promotion-of-large-families-sparks-controversy/93486|url-status=live|website=[[Union of Catholic Asian News]]|language=en}}</ref> The scheme of the Palai Bishop was followed by an announcement from the Church that extended free of cost [[neonatal]] care to women giving birth to their fourth child in Church run hospitals, and scholarships for the fourth and subsequent children of families who get admitted at Church run engineering colleges.<ref name=":32" />
From within the Syro-Malabar Church, the former spokesman of the synod, Paul Thelakkat and Senior Nun Teena Jose slammed Kallarangatt on account of his controversial statement, alleging that the controversy was purposefully orchestrated to distract from the sexual assault and corruption allegations surrounding the church's top leadership and created to forge an alliance with the Sangh Parivar in exchange for warding off investigations from agencies of the [[Narendra Modi]] government.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Raghunath|first=Arjun|date=2021-09-16|title=BJP's efforts to cash in on 'narcotic jihad' row in Kerala suffers setback|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/bjps-efforts-to-cash-in-on-narcotic-jihad-row-in-kerala-suffers-setback-1031117.html|access-date=2021-09-26|website=[[Deccan Herald]]|language=en}}</ref> The protesting nuns held a [[walkout]] protest, during a Holy Qurbana in Kuravilangad, against [[hate speech]] by Kallarangatt, after the parish priest reportedly endorsed him and called for "economic boycott of Muslims".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-13|title=Nuns in Kerala Stage Walkout Protesting Priest's Speech Against Muslims|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/nuns-kerala-stage-walkout-protesting-priests-speech-against-muslims-155210#:~:text=The%20News%20Minute-,Nuns%20in%20Kerala%20stage%20walkout%20protesting%20priest's%20speech%20against%20Muslims,Franco%20in%20a%20rape%20case.&text=The%20nuns%20are%20Anupama%20Kelamangalathuveliyil,Ancitta%20Urumbil%20and%20Josephine%20Viloonickal.|website=[[The News Minute]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Henry|first=Nikhila|date=2021-09-14|title='Narcotics Jihad': Why is a Catholic Nun Asking a Kerala Bishop to Apologise?|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/narcotics-jihad-why-a-catholic-nun-sister-teena-jose-is-asking-kerala-bishop-mar-joseph-kallarangatt-to-apologise|website=[[The Quint]]|language=en}}</ref> Certain Catholic reformative organisations including the Joint Christian Council (JCC) and the Kerala Catholic Reformation Movement (KCRM) as well as the [[Social Democratic Party of India]] (SDPI) criticised Kallarangatt on similar lines.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pala Bishop should be Arrested for Violating Christian Muslim Harmony {{!}} SDPI |url=https://malayalam.oneindia.com/news/kerala/pala-bishop-should-be-arrested-for-violating-christian-muslim-harmony-sdpi-309255.html |language=ml}}</ref>


=== 2021 Love and narcotics jihad controversy ===
Muslim organisations condemned the statements expressing that such remarks coming from a bishop was unprecedented; criticisms of his statement were made that described it as promoting [[prejudice]] against Muslims among Christians and involved varied demands for retraction, apologies, evidence and clarifications.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=10 September 2021|title=Kerala Bishop Says Non-Muslims Are Targets of Organised 'Narcotic Jihad', Draws Flak|url=https://thewire.in/communalism/kerala-bishop-says-non-muslims-are-targets-of-organised-narcotic-jihad-draws-flak|website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]}}</ref> Some of them organised a protest march in Palai to the Bishop's House demanding legal action against him, it saw the participation of 200 people. It led to a counter protest by supporters of the bishop along with the involvement of several local politicians. Both the marches were broken off by the police and participants charged for violation of [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 protocols]]. The JCC stated that the two clashing protest marches could have led to a riot,<ref name=":4" /> and held a protest of their own demanded Kallarangatt to release an apology and raised concerns that the "Changanacherry lobby" was hijacking the church.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-09-25|title=Joint Christian Council stages protest|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/joint-christian-council-stages-protest/article36673413.ece|access-date=2021-09-26|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=2021-09-11|title='Narcotic jihad' row: Pala witnesses wave of protests|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/pala-witnesses-wave-of-protests/article36403443.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party extended its full support to the bishop and its several senior state functionaries visited him at his residence after the protests.<ref name=Hindu>{{Cite news|date=2021-09-13|title=More come in support for Pala Bishop|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/more-come-in-support-for-bishop/article36437320.ece|access-date=2021-09-26|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
On 08 September 2021, Bishop Kallarangatt sparked a major controversy in the sermon amidst the Holy Mass on the occasion of the feast of [https://udayton.edu/imri/mary/b/birth-of-mary-september-8.php Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary] and the conclusion of [[Ettu Nombu]] at [https://kuravilangadpally.com/ Major Archiepiscopal Marth Mariam Archdeacon Pilgrim Church Kuravilangad].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=Onmanorama|date=9 September 2021|title=Non-Muslims in Kerala becoming victims of Love & Narcotic Jihad: Pala Bishop|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2021/09/09/pala-bishop-kallarangatt-love-jihad-narcotic-jihad.html|url-status=live|access-date=11 November 2021|website=Onmanorama}}</ref> when he claimed that the [[conspiracy theory]] of "[[love jihad]]" was real and that there was also a "narcotics jihad" targeting youths as a means of indirect war to annihilate the non-Muslim population. He described "narcotics jihad" as being evident everywhere from [[ice cream parlour]]s, juice corners, [[rave parties]] and hotels where youths were trapped into drug addiction and their lives spoilt.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 September 2021|title=Kerala bishop claims Muslims have launched 'narcotics jihad', faces criticism|url=https://scroll.in/latest/1005116/muslims-are-getting-others-addicted-to-drugs-claims-kerala-bishop-calls-it-narcotic-jihad|url-status=live|website=[[Scroll.in]]|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Philip|first=Shaju|date=2021-09-10|title=Non-Muslims are targets of 'narcotic jihad': Kerala bishop|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/non-muslims-are-targets-of-narcotic-jihad-kerala-bishop-7499908/|url-status=live|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en}}</ref> The remarks attracted immediate and widespread condemnation from within the Christian community.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|last=Krishnakumar|first=R.|date=8 October 2021|title=Pulpit polemics: Bishop's homily on 'narcotic jehad' catches Kerala by surprise|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/communalism/pulpit-polemics/article36535496.ece|url-status=live|website=[[Frontline (magazine)|Frontline]]|publisher=[[The Hindu Group]]|language=en}}</ref> Representatives of the non-Catholic denominations were more vocal in their opposition though there were responses of disapproval from the other autonomous [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Church]] and the Roman Catholic Church in India as well.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Dayal|first=John|date=17 September 2021|title=Internally bleeding Indian church too weak to face challenges|url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/internally-bleeding-indian-church-too-weak-to-face-challenges/94177|url-status=live|website=[[Union of Catholic Asian News]]|language=en}}</ref> [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan Bishop]] [[Militos Yuhanon|Yuhanon Mor Meletius]] of the [[Syriac Orthodox Church|Jacobite Christian]] denomination and Metropolitan Bishop [[Coorilose Geevarghese]] of the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church|Orthodox Christian]] denomination, both part of [[Oriental Orthodoxy]] expressed the strongest condemnations stating that Kallarangatt had fallen into the design of the [[Sangh Parivar]] and was creating divisions among minorities with conspiracy theories at a time of growing [[fascism]] in India which threatened all of them.<ref name=":5" /> Metropolitan [[Theodosius Mar Thoma]], the head of the [[Eastern Protestant Christianity|Eastern Protestant]] [[Mar Thoma Syrian Church|Saint Thomas Christian]] denomination also openly derided Kallarangatt for attempting to aggravate communal divisions in Kerala.<ref name=":6" />


From within the Syro-Malabar Church, the former spokesman of the Synod, Father Paul Thelakkat criticised Kallarangatt for having a [[prejudiced]] view of Christian women stating that the majority of medical nurses providing brave service were Christian women while "he sees them as easy prey to any sinister gang and goon" and admonished him for going against [[Pope Francis]]'s efforts to improve relations with other religious communities.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Raghunath|first=Arjun|date=2021-09-16|title=BJP's efforts to cash in on 'narcotic jihad' row in Kerala suffers setback|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/bjps-efforts-to-cash-in-on-narcotic-jihad-row-in-kerala-suffers-setback-1031117.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-26|website=[[Deccan Herald]]|language=en}}</ref> Nuns affiliated to the Church held a [[walkout]] protest against [[hate speech]] by Kallanragatt and his supporters, after another priest endorsed him and called for economic boycott of Muslims.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-13|title=Nuns in Kerala Stage Walkout Protesting Priest's Speech Against Muslims|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/nuns-kerala-stage-walkout-protesting-priests-speech-against-muslims-155210#:~:text=The%20News%20Minute-,Nuns%20in%20Kerala%20stage%20walkout%20protesting%20priest's%20speech%20against%20Muslims,Franco%20in%20a%20rape%20case.&text=The%20nuns%20are%20Anupama%20Kelamangalathuveliyil,Ancitta%20Urumbil%20and%20Josephine%20Viloonickal.|url-status=live|website=[[The News Minute]]|language=en}}</ref> Senior Nun [[Teena Jose]] demanded Kallrangatt to apologise, accusing him of playing immoral politics and not practising Christ's [[Love of Christ|commandment of love]]. According to her, Christians are moving away from religion while the bishop is abusing the trust of the religious laity with bizarre explanations rather than trying to bring the [[irreligious]] back to the faith. She alleged that he was trying to strengthen an extremist faction of clergy within the Church and dishonestly trying to realign it with the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] to meet his own ends. The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is traditionally aligned with the [[Indian National Congress]] in its opposition to the [[Communism in Kerala|Communists in the state]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Henry|first=Nikhila|date=2021-09-14|title='Narcotics Jihad': Why is a Catholic Nun Asking a Kerala Bishop to Apologise?|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/narcotics-jihad-why-a-catholic-nun-sister-teena-jose-is-asking-kerala-bishop-mar-joseph-kallarangatt-to-apologise|url-status=live|website=[[The Quint]]|language=en}}</ref> The Catholic oriented Joint Christian Council (JCC) and the Kerala Catholic Reformation Movement (KCRM) criticised Kallarangatt on similar lines, raising concerns that the controversy was purposeful to distract from the sexual assault and corruption allegations surrounding the Church's top leadership and created to forge an alliance with the Sangh Parivar in exchange for warding off investigations from agencies of the Narendra Modi government.<ref name=":4" />
The Pala diocese issued a clarification stating that the bishop did not imply that all Muslims were doing so but only a small minority of extremists who were true believers. The same message was reiterated in communications from the KCBC and Archbishop Perumthottam.<ref name=":2" /> The chairman of the [[Kerala Congress (M)]], a member party of the [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|Left Democratic Front]], the communist led ruling coalition in Kerala also extended his support, criticising opponents of the bishop and accusing them of misrepresenting the bishop's statement.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Philip|first=Shaju|date=2021-09-13|title=CPM ally Kerala Congress (M) extends support to bishop|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cpm-ally-kerala-congress-m-extends-support-to-bishop-7504788/|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en}}</ref>


There were also strong condemnations from Muslim organisations who stated that such remarks coming from a bishop was unexpected; criticisms of his statement were made that described it as promoting [[prejudice]] against Muslims among Christians and involved varied demands for retraction, apologies, evidence and clarifications.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=10 September 2021|title=Kerala Bishop Says Non-Muslims Are Targets of Organised 'Narcotic Jihad', Draws Flak|url=https://thewire.in/communalism/kerala-bishop-says-non-muslims-are-targets-of-organised-narcotic-jihad-draws-flak|url-status=live|website=[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]}}</ref> Some of them organised a protest march in Palai to the Bishop's House demanding legal action against him, it saw the participation of 200 people. It led to a counter protest by supporters of the bishop along with the involvement of several local politicians. Both the marches were broken off by the police and participants charged for violation of [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 protocols]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|date=2021-09-11|title='Narcotic jihad' row: Pala witnesses wave of protests|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/pala-witnesses-wave-of-protests/article36403443.ece|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The [[Hindutva]] proponent right wing Bharatiya Janata Party extended its full support to the bishop claiming that he was revealing the "truth" of a widespread conspiracy that everyone else was trying to hide, several senior state functionaries of the party visited him at his residence after the protests. Joseph Perumthottam, the Archbishop of his ecclesiastical province, Changanacherry had also granted his support to Kallarangatt. He endorsed the bishop through an article in the Church controlled newspaper ''[[Deepika (newspaper)|Deepika]]''. The [[Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council]] (KCBC) in which Kallarangatt and Perumthottam held influential positions released a statement declaring that it stood by the bishop.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-09-13|title=More come in support for Pala Bishop|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/more-come-in-support-for-bishop/article36437320.ece|access-date=2021-09-26|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The JCC stated that the two clashing protest marches could have led to a riot,<ref name=":4" /> and held a protest of their own demanded Kallarangatt to release a apology and raised concerns that the Changanacherry lobby was hijacking the Church.<ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2021-09-25|title=Joint Christian Council stages protest|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/joint-christian-council-stages-protest/article36673413.ece|access-date=2021-09-26|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
Joseph Perumthottam, the Archbishop of Changanacherry, endorsed Kallarangatt through an article in the church-controlled newspaper ''[[Deepika (newspaper)|Deepika]]''. The Syro-Malabar Church issued a statement through its Public Affairs Commission offering their support to the Kallarangatt when this issue became controversial. The statement affirmed that the Kallarangatt's homily reflected the official position of the Syro-Malabar Church on the issue.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Narcotic jihad' row: Kerala's Syro-Malabar Church stands by Pala Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt [Full statement] {{!}} Kerala News |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/amp/india/kerala/article/narcotic-jihad-row-kerala-syro-malabar-church-stands-by-pala-bishop-joseph-kallarangatt-full-statement/815492 |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=www.timesnownews.com}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Narcotic Jihad row: Syro-Malabar church defends it's under-fire bishop |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2021/09/22/narcotic-jihad-pala-bishop-syro-malabar-church-public-affairs-commission.html |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=www.onmanorama.com}}</ref> The statement went on to say that the term 'Narco Jihad' was used in 2017 in a paper published by the [[European Foundation for South Asian Studies]] on the drug trade in [[Afghanistan]] by providing evidence for the drug business done by terrorist organisations.<ref name=":10" /> Moreover, the [[Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council]] (KCBC), representing all Catholic bishops in Kerala, has been discussing concerns about "love jihad" for several years. Following the controversy, the KCBC released a statement supporting Bishop Kallarangatt and other bishops who endorsed him. The statement affirmed that Kallarangatt's homily reflected the official position of the Syro-Malabar Church on the matter in Kerala.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-09-13|title=More come in support for Pala Bishop|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/more-come-in-support-for-bishop/article36437320.ece|access-date=2021-09-26|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-22 |title=Pulpit polemics: Bishop's homily on 'narcotic jehad' catches Kerala by surprise |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/communalism/pulpit-polemics/article36535496.ece |access-date=2024-07-29 |website=Frontline |language=en}}</ref>


The Pala diocese issued a clarification stating that the bishop did not imply that all Muslims were doing so but only a small minority of extremists who were true believers. The same message was reiterated in communications from the KCBC and Archbishop Perumthottam.<ref name=":2" /> The chairman of the Syro-Malabar based [[Kerala Congress (M)]], a member party of the [[Left Democratic Front (Kerala)|Left Democratic Front]], the communist led ruling coalition in Kerala also extended his support, criticising opponents of the bishop and accusing them of misrepresenting the bishop's statement.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Philip|first=Shaju|date=2021-09-13|title=CPM ally Kerala Congress (M) extends support to bishop|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cpm-ally-kerala-congress-m-extends-support-to-bishop-7504788/|url-status=live|website=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en}}</ref>
[[Pinarayi Vijayan]], the [[Chief Minister of Kerala]] and a leader of the left-wing [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]], stated that it was the first time he was hearing about such a thing as "narcotics jihad" and that Kallarangatt being an influential and learned man should think before speaking and remember his civil obligation of not creating divisions in society, an obligation which all religious leaders have.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-09-10|title=Spiritual leaders should be cautious against their words causing discordance: Pinarayi Vjayan|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/spiritual-leaders-should-be-cautious-against-their-words-causing-discordance-pinarayi-vjayan/article36396787.ece|access-date=2021-09-26|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In addition, he stated drug trafficking and consumption of narcotics were are a serious criminal and social issue respectively but could not be tied to religious affiliations, and that allegations of "narcotics jihad" and "love jihad" were delusional with no evidential support, citing data on interfaith marriages and on suspects and convicts in narcotics cases whose affiliations did not have any unusual ratios and reflected the general distribution of religious identities in the population of the state.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|date=23 September 2021|title=Kerala CM cites data to refute claims linking religion to 'narcotics, love jihad'|url=https://scroll.in/latest/1006023/kerala-cm-cites-data-to-refute-claims-linking-religion-to-narcotics-love-jihad|website=[[Scroll.in]]|language=en-US}}</ref> Responding to demands of legal action, he stated that the government will not initiate any as the bishop was within his rights to address his sermon's attendees and because he did not intend to cause any communal enmity.<ref name=":1" />  


The [[Chief Minister of Kerala]], [[Pinarayi Vijayan]], a member of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]], the largest party in the Left Democratic Front stated that it was the first time he was hearing about such a thing as "narcotics jihad" and that Kallarangatt being an influential and learned man should think before speaking and remember his civil obligation of not creating divisions in society, an obligation which all religious leaders have.<ref>{{Cite news|others=Special Correspondent|date=2021-09-10|title=Spiritual leaders should be cautious against their words causing discordance: Pinarayi Vjayan|language=en-IN|work=[[The Hindu]]|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/spiritual-leaders-should-be-cautious-against-their-words-causing-discordance-pinarayi-vjayan/article36396787.ece|access-date=2021-09-26|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In addition, he stated drug trafficking and consumption of narcotics were are a serious criminal and social issue respectively but could not be tied to religious affiliations, and that allegations of "narcotics jihad" and "love jihad" were delusional with no evidential support, citing data on interfaith marriages and on suspects and convicts in narcotics cases whose affiliations did not have any unusual ratios and reflected the general distribution of religious identities in the population of the state.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|date=23 September 2021|title=Kerala CM cites data to refute claims linking religion to 'narcotics, love jihad'|url=https://scroll.in/latest/1006023/kerala-cm-cites-data-to-refute-claims-linking-religion-to-narcotics-love-jihad|url-status=live|website=[[Scroll.in]]|language=en-US}}</ref> Responding to demands of legal action, he stated that the government will not initiate any as the bishop was within his rights to address his sermon's attendees and because he did not intend to cause any communal enmity.<ref name=":1" />
A case was registered against Kallarangatt by the [[Kerala Police]] in November 2021 over his remarks.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kerala: Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt Booked For 'Narcotic Jihad' Remarks|url=https://thewire.in/communalism/catholic-bishop-joseph-kallarangatt-booked-for-narcotic-jihad-remarks|access-date=2021-11-15|website=The Wire}}</ref>


== References==
== References==
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Latest revision as of 02:03, 24 May 2025


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Mar

Joseph Kallarangatt
Bishop of Palai
ChurchSyro-Malabar Catholic Church
SeeEparchy of Palai
Appointed18 March 2004
PredecessorJoseph Pallikaparampil
Other post(s)Chairman of Syro-Malabar Synodal Commission for Family, Laity and Life
Orders
Ordination2 January 1982
Consecration2 May 2004
by Joseph Powathil, Varkey Vithayathil, and Joseph Pallikaparampil
Personal details
Born (1956-01-27) 27 January 1956 (age 70)
Kayyoor, Kottayam District, Kerala, India
EducationGregorian University, Rome

Joseph Kallarangatt (born 27 January 1956) is an Indian bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church serving as the Bishop of the Eparchy of Palai since 2004 succeeding Joseph Pallikaparampil.

Prior to Kallarangatt's ascent as bishop, he served in various roles in the Eparchy as well as in the Seminary including as the President of the Paurastya Vidyapitam in Vadavathoor. After his installation as Bishop, He serves as a Substitute Member of the Syro-Malabar Church's Permanent Synod and was the head of the church's doctrinal commission.[1][2]

Early life and career[edit | edit source]

Joseph Kallarangatt was born on 27 January 1956, in Kayyoor located in the Kottayam district of Kerala. He received his education at a Catholic seminary in Palai and became an ordained priest on 2 January 1982. Kallarangatt was an assistant parish priest at the Aruvithura and Ramapuram parishes until he was sent to the Gregorian University in Rome, Italy in 1984, from where he attained a doctorate in theology (ThD). Following his ThD, he became a teacher at a seminary in Vadavathoor and later the president of the Pontifical Oriental Institute of Religious Studies (Paurastya Vidyapitam), a theology institution of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.[1]

Pastoral ministry[edit | edit source]

Episcopacy[edit | edit source]

On 18 March 2004, Kallarangatt was appointed as the 3rd Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai, succeeding Joseph Pallikaparambil. His episcopal consecration occurred on 2 May 2004 conducted by Archbishop of Changanacherry Joseph Powathil and his enthronement was conducted by Major Archbishop Varkey Vithayathil.[1] The diocese (eparchy) of Palai has the largest concentration of Syro-Malabar Catholics in Kerala.[2]

The 31st plenary meeting of the CBCI was held at Alphonsian Pastoral Institute Pala from 5 to 12 February 2014 under the patronage of Joseph Kallarangatt as the local host.[3]

Kallarangatt acted as the co-consecrator of Joseph Srampickal as the first bishop of the newly founded Syro-Malabar eparchy of Great Britain. The 2016 ceremony was led by Major Archbishop George Alencherry in Preston, United Kingdom. Srampickal, a priest from Palai was appointed by Pope Francis as the bishop-elect to the newly founded diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church in the United Kingdom.[4] He assisted in the 2017 consecration of Thomas Tharayil as the auxiliary bishop to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanacherry led by the Archbishop of Changanacherry, Joseph Perumthottam.[5]

Theological and doctrinal stance[edit | edit source]

In early 2018, Kallarangatt headed a doctrinal committee of the church, which produced a report concluding that the religious interpretation of yoga was incompatible with Christian beliefs. The report stated that yoga could be practised for health benefits but to interpret results from it as spiritual benefits had far reaching and dangerous consequences.[6]

Rite of Renewal of the Holy Malka officiated by Joseph Kallarangatt

He is one of the prominent bishops who is staunch adherent to the traditions, liturgical and ritual peculiarities of the Syro-Malabar Church. He is an expert in Syriac language and theology and is known to be the only Syro-Malabar bishop who is capable of celebrating the Holy Qurbana in Syriac.[7][8]

Controversies[edit | edit source]

Template:Unbalanced section In early September 2018, a Catholic nun lodged a complaint against the then incumbent Bishop of Jalandhar Franco Mulakkal, accusing him of rape. Five of her fellow nuns of her congregation, the Missionaries of Jesus, began protests over inaction, saying that her repeated complaints to various authorities in the church hierarchy since 2017 had elicited no response.[9] Bishop Kallarangatt was allegedly one of the first church authorities she had confided to back in June 2017.[9][10] During the police investigation, he was brought in for questioning and he stated that the nun had only made a verbal complaint with him that the "atmosphere in the convent was not pleasant and that she was under stress". In response he advised her to inform the heads of her church.[11][10] Mulakkal was later arrested in September 2018 and the Palai diocese extended its support for him.[12] In January 2022, Mulakkal was acquitted of all charges related to the case.[13]"

In July 2021, as part of the "Year of the Family" celebrations, the Palai diocese devised a welfare scheme seeking to increase birth rates among Catholic women by offering financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month, admissions with scholarships at the church-run St. Joseph's College of Engineering and Technology, Palai and free medical facilities for every child born after the 4th child of couples married post 2000.[14] The announcement of the scheme by Kallarangatt caused controversy but he defended it, stating that he stood by the scheme and that it was announced to support large families facing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He further stated that they would begin taking applications and will be able to provide benefits from August onwards.[15] Critics from within the Syro-Malabar community and elsewhere described it as an unethical and immoral scheme created for petty political gains and as interference in the sexual lives of married couples by unmarried clergy.[16] The scheme of the Palai Bishop was followed by an announcement from the Church that extended free of cost neonatal care to women giving birth to their fourth child in Church run hospitals, and scholarships for the fourth and subsequent children of families who get admitted at Church run engineering colleges.[15]

2021 Love and narcotics jihad controversy[edit | edit source]

On 8 September 2021, Kallarangatt sparked a major controversy during a sermon at Kuravilangad Church, when he claimed that "love jihad" was real and that there was also a "narcotics jihad" targeting youths by radicals as a means of indirect war to annihilate the non-Muslim population. He described "narcotics jihad" as being present in places such as ice cream parlours, juice corners, rave parties, and hotels. Kallarangatt claimed these places led to youths becoming trapped into drug addiction.[17][18] The remarks attracted immediate, widespread commentary and mixed reception, even from within the Christian community.[19]

Representatives and members of the non-Catholic Christian churches were more vocal in their opposition, though there were also some disapproving responses from the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and the Latin Church in India.[20] Metropolitan Theodosius Mar Thoma, the head of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church, openly derided Kallarangatt for attempting to aggravate communal divisions in Kerala.[20] Bishop Yuhanon Meletius of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and Bishop Coorilose Geevarghese of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, both part of Oriental Orthodoxy also expressed the strongest condemnations stating that Kallarangatt had fallen into the design of the Sangh Parivar and was creating divisions among minorities with conspiracy theories at a time of growing fascism in India which threatened all of them.[19]

From within the Syro-Malabar Church, the former spokesman of the synod, Paul Thelakkat and Senior Nun Teena Jose slammed Kallarangatt on account of his controversial statement, alleging that the controversy was purposefully orchestrated to distract from the sexual assault and corruption allegations surrounding the church's top leadership and created to forge an alliance with the Sangh Parivar in exchange for warding off investigations from agencies of the Narendra Modi government.[19][21] The protesting nuns held a walkout protest, during a Holy Qurbana in Kuravilangad, against hate speech by Kallarangatt, after the parish priest reportedly endorsed him and called for "economic boycott of Muslims".[22][23] Certain Catholic reformative organisations including the Joint Christian Council (JCC) and the Kerala Catholic Reformation Movement (KCRM) as well as the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) criticised Kallarangatt on similar lines.[12][24]

Muslim organisations condemned the statements expressing that such remarks coming from a bishop was unprecedented; criticisms of his statement were made that described it as promoting prejudice against Muslims among Christians and involved varied demands for retraction, apologies, evidence and clarifications.[2][25] Some of them organised a protest march in Palai to the Bishop's House demanding legal action against him, it saw the participation of 200 people. It led to a counter protest by supporters of the bishop along with the involvement of several local politicians. Both the marches were broken off by the police and participants charged for violation of COVID-19 protocols. The JCC stated that the two clashing protest marches could have led to a riot,[12] and held a protest of their own demanded Kallarangatt to release an apology and raised concerns that the "Changanacherry lobby" was hijacking the church.[26][27] The right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party extended its full support to the bishop and its several senior state functionaries visited him at his residence after the protests.[28]

The Pala diocese issued a clarification stating that the bishop did not imply that all Muslims were doing so but only a small minority of extremists who were true believers. The same message was reiterated in communications from the KCBC and Archbishop Perumthottam.[27] The chairman of the Kerala Congress (M), a member party of the Left Democratic Front, the communist led ruling coalition in Kerala also extended his support, criticising opponents of the bishop and accusing them of misrepresenting the bishop's statement.[29]

Joseph Perumthottam, the Archbishop of Changanacherry, endorsed Kallarangatt through an article in the church-controlled newspaper Deepika. The Syro-Malabar Church issued a statement through its Public Affairs Commission offering their support to the Kallarangatt when this issue became controversial. The statement affirmed that the Kallarangatt's homily reflected the official position of the Syro-Malabar Church on the issue.[30][31] The statement went on to say that the term 'Narco Jihad' was used in 2017 in a paper published by the European Foundation for South Asian Studies on the drug trade in Afghanistan by providing evidence for the drug business done by terrorist organisations.[31] Moreover, the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council (KCBC), representing all Catholic bishops in Kerala, has been discussing concerns about "love jihad" for several years. Following the controversy, the KCBC released a statement supporting Bishop Kallarangatt and other bishops who endorsed him. The statement affirmed that Kallarangatt's homily reflected the official position of the Syro-Malabar Church on the matter in Kerala.[32][33]

Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala and a leader of the left-wing Communist Party of India (Marxist), stated that it was the first time he was hearing about such a thing as "narcotics jihad" and that Kallarangatt being an influential and learned man should think before speaking and remember his civil obligation of not creating divisions in society, an obligation which all religious leaders have.[34] In addition, he stated drug trafficking and consumption of narcotics were are a serious criminal and social issue respectively but could not be tied to religious affiliations, and that allegations of "narcotics jihad" and "love jihad" were delusional with no evidential support, citing data on interfaith marriages and on suspects and convicts in narcotics cases whose affiliations did not have any unusual ratios and reflected the general distribution of religious identities in the population of the state.[35] Responding to demands of legal action, he stated that the government will not initiate any as the bishop was within his rights to address his sermon's attendees and because he did not intend to cause any communal enmity.[21]

A case was registered against Kallarangatt by the Kerala Police in November 2021 over his remarks.[36]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Bishop of Palai Diocese, Joseph Kallarangatt". Union of Catholic Asian News. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Varma, Vishnu (21 September 2021). "Explained: Kerala Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt and the row behind his 'love and narcotic jihad' theory". The Indian Express.
  3. ↑ "H. E. Mar Joseph Kallarangatt". Eparchy of Palai. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  4. ↑ "Kerala's Syro-Malabar Catholics get new diocese in UK". The News Minute. Press Trust of India. 29 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "Mar Tharayil ordained auxiliary bishop". The Hindu. 23 April 2017. ISSN 0971-751X.
  6. ↑ "Yoga and Christian beliefs cannot go together: Catholic Church". Mathrubhumi. Mananthavady. 4 April 2018.
  7. ↑ Jose, Sabu (2 January 2022). "Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt: A shepherd who live Gospel in its fullness". മംഗള വാർത്ത. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  8. ↑ "AP 15 - Interview with Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt (Bishop of Palai, Kerala), the only bishop in India who celebrates the Solemn Qurbana in Syriac". newproduction.christianmusicologicalsocietyofindia.com. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Konikkara, Aathira (26 September 2018). "He prayed like a holy man as she shed tears: Bishop Franco Mulakkal and a nun's fight for justice". The Caravan.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Nun complained to me: Pala bishop". The Hindu. 14 July 2018. ISSN 0971-751X.
  11. ↑ "Nun told me about her ordeal at convent: Pala bishop to sleuths". The Times of India. 15 July 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 John, Haritha (17 September 2021). "The right turn by a section of Kerala's Catholic church is sheer opportunism". The News Minute.
  13. ↑ "Nun rape case: Court acquits Bishop Franco Mulakkal of all charges". Malayala Manorama. 14 January 2022. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Pala diocese plans more sops for large families". The Hindu. Kottayam. 27 July 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Catholic church in Kerala announces welfare scheme for families to have more children". Mathrubhumi. Kottayam. 27 July 2021.
  16. ↑ "Indian bishop's promotion of large families sparks controversy". Union of Catholic Asian News. 28 July 2021.
  17. ↑ "Kerala bishop claims Muslims have launched 'narcotics jihad', faces criticism". Scroll.in. 10 September 2021.
  18. ↑ Philip, Shaju (10 September 2021). "Non-Muslims are targets of 'narcotic jihad': Kerala bishop". The Indian Express.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Krishnakumar, R. (8 October 2021). "Pulpit polemics: Bishop's homily on 'narcotic jehad' catches Kerala by surprise". Frontline. The Hindu Group.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Dayal, John (17 September 2021). "Internally bleeding Indian church too weak to face challenges". Union of Catholic Asian News.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Raghunath, Arjun (16 September 2021). "BJP's efforts to cash in on 'narcotic jihad' row in Kerala suffers setback". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  22. ↑ "Nuns in Kerala Stage Walkout Protesting Priest's Speech Against Muslims". The News Minute. 13 September 2021.
  23. ↑ Henry, Nikhila (14 September 2021). "'Narcotics Jihad': Why is a Catholic Nun Asking a Kerala Bishop to Apologise?". The Quint.
  24. ↑ "Pala Bishop should be Arrested for Violating Christian Muslim Harmony | SDPI" (in മലയാളം).
  25. ↑ "Kerala Bishop Says Non-Muslims Are Targets of Organised 'Narcotic Jihad', Draws Flak". The Wire. 10 September 2021.
  26. ↑ "Joint Christian Council stages protest". The Hindu. 25 September 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "'Narcotic jihad' row: Pala witnesses wave of protests". The Hindu. 11 September 2021. ISSN 0971-751X.
  28. ↑ "More come in support for Pala Bishop". The Hindu. 13 September 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  29. ↑ Philip, Shaju (13 September 2021). "CPM ally Kerala Congress (M) extends support to bishop". The Indian Express.
  30. ↑ "'Narcotic jihad' row: Kerala's Syro-Malabar Church stands by Pala Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt [Full statement] | Kerala News". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Narcotic Jihad row: Syro-Malabar church defends it's under-fire bishop". www.onmanorama.com. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  32. ↑ "More come in support for Pala Bishop". The Hindu. 13 September 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  33. ↑ "Pulpit polemics: Bishop's homily on 'narcotic jehad' catches Kerala by surprise". Frontline. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  34. ↑ "Spiritual leaders should be cautious against their words causing discordance: Pinarayi Vjayan". The Hindu. 10 September 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  35. ↑ "Kerala CM cites data to refute claims linking religion to 'narcotics, love jihad'". Scroll.in. 23 September 2021.
  36. ↑ "Kerala: Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt Booked For 'Narcotic Jihad' Remarks". The Wire. Retrieved 15 November 2021.

External links[edit | edit source]

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