Compassion International reached end of road for its operation in India for diverting money to non-FCRA registered organisations
Sandeep Singh
“Since 2014, Compassion (International) has been the target of multiple coordinated governmental attacks because of its unapologetically Christian belief,” Republican Senator Cory Gardner from Colorado said in January 2017, during the Secretary of State confirmation hearing of Tillerson. He made this point because due to restrictions by the Indian government, Compassion International has been unable to fund its India operation since February 2016, The Mission statement of Compassion International, the organisation with apologetically Christian belief (https://www.compassion.com/
mission-statement.htm) states: “In response to the Great Commission, Compassion International exists as an advocate for children, to release them from their spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults.”
Caruna Bal Vikas-Chennai and Compassion East India-Kolkata are the primary affiliates of Compassion International in India, which have been operating in India since 1968. An
analysis published by Indiafacts.org states: “CarunaBal Vikas, Chennai appears to “take care” of Kerala, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Delhi. Compassion East India, Kolkata appears to “take care” of West Bengal, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Thus, there seems to be a nice “division of labour” among the two.”
In a letter “If nothing changes in the next couple of weeks, our last day of operation in India will be March 15” (https://blog.compassion.com/ compassion-international-ending-operations-in-india-march-15/), Compassion International states “Months ago, the Indian government began blocking funds from reaching our field offices and church partners… so over 147,000 babies, children, young adults and mothers will no longer receive the benefits of Compassion’s program. I am distraught over the partnerships with 589 churches that will come to an end.”
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs, almost a year back, had put Compassion International on the Prior Permission list, after its affiliate, CarunaBal Vikas, Chennai (FCRA-NGO), distributed the money it received to other NGOs, which were not registered under FCRA. The transfer of such foreign funds by an FCRA-NGO to organisations, which are not
registered under FCRA is a violation of Section 7 of the FCRA (2010).
Besides FCRA violation, whenever one listens of Church, Children and Women, one must be very careful. Children and Women are always vulnerable to Church. The latest attack on a child from Church is from Father Robin. “Father Robin Vadakkumchery, the priest of the St Sebastian Church in the state’s northern district of Kannur, and the survivor, a 16-year-old girl from a poor family that belongs to the same parish. Allegedly, the priest had been sexually exploiting the girl for a long time and the family came to know about it only when the girl became pregnant. Following this, a cover-up plan seems to have been set in motion by the priest, backed by Church-run institutions. The pregnant girl was sent to a hospital under the Church, and when she gave birth, the child was transferred to an orphanage, also run by the Church.”
It is not an isolated incidence. Another report (https://scroll.in/ article/830556/with-mounting-cases-of-sexual-abuse-by-priests-the-church-in-kerala-faces-rising-public-anger) listed the following abuses A special court in Ernakulam had given double life term to a priest, Fr Edwin Figarez, in December last year on charges of raping a 14-year-old several times between January to March 2015 in the priest’s home at the Puthenvelikkara Church in Thrissur district.
In 2013, Father Arokiaraj, a priest at the St Stanislaus Church in Palakkad, had raped and killed 17-year-old Fatima. The priest, who confessed that he had sexually abused the victim, was dismissed from the church but the incident was not reported to the police.
It is evident from series of reports published that Church plays active role in suppressing such information, it is very difficult to figure out the actual number of incidents of child abuse taking place in Church.
“On August 24, 2005, the diocese of Crookton in Minnesota received an anonymous complaint stating that an Indian priest, Father Joseph Palanivel Jeyapaul, working at the church had sexually assaulted a minor”. Other victim later came forward. Another young girl who had been sexually assaulted by Father Jeyapaul came forward. The man hailing from Tamil Nadu rushed back to India and after almost a decade of legal wrangles, he was convicted by the Minnesota court and sentenced to a year in prison in 2015.
After serving a shorter prison term, Jeyapaul returned to India a few months ago. And in a move that has shocked child right activists in the state; the Roman Catholic Church of Southern India has now lifted the suspension against him.
Women also suffer in equal measure in Church. A tribal woman was raped by priest in Madhya Pradesh in February 2017. “The tribal woman has accused the priest Hanop Alexander of rape. The priest has gone absconding,” Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kamal Paul David said. (http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/church-priest-booked-for-raping-tribal-woman-in-madhya-pradesh/story-oZXNDv8kodVkO8njTUbl6L.html)
Sister Jesme, former Principal of St Mary’s College, Thrissur, said, “The church has become a breeding ground for sexual offenders.” In 2012, Sister Mary, who had spent 4 decades as nun, in her book described in vivid detail the extreme pain she had to endure during her tenure with the Church.
Following is an example how children are converted. The Hindustan Times reported the plight of kids from Greater Noida: Forcibly converted to Christianity, hung by the wrists from a ceiling fan, starved for days and beaten mercilessly for failing to recite Bible passages — this is what a nine-year-old boy said. He had to endure at an illegal shelter. He was among 30 children, all from poor families, rescued on December 29 after police raided two homes run by the Emmanuel Seva Group in Greater Noida and Meerut. The child, who along with his younger sister and brother, had been confined to the home for three years, said that their stay was like a “jail term” during which his name was also changed. (http://www.hindustantimes.com/noida/greater-noida-shelter-kids-starved-forcibly-converted-to-christianity/story-msJFyEoZaffHcjNHA3I3UM.html)
While there is no knowledge about any church associated with Compassion International engaging in child abuse or conversion, but looking at the role of various churches in child abuse and the large number of Churches associated with Compassion International, it will be important that government institutes an inquiry to look into the associated Churches’ role in child abuse and conversion before Compassion International leaves India. (As per the US Senator and the mission statement, it is clear that Compassion International promotes conversion.)
The letter from Compassion International also states “I have hope because I know that, even after Compassion has left, those 589 Indian churches that are passionate about
caring for children will still be there. They will continue to do what they can to serve families throughout their
country. Compassion’s model has always been to lift up the local church so she can better serve her own community. We trust those churches grew stronger through years of partnering with Compassion, and they will take that strength and grow it to meet the unique needs of the communities they serve.”
These lines are important and a note should be taken off the same. It is clear that by the ouster of Compassion International from India, problem will not be solved. The issues will remain there and this time from the home grown Churches. New ways and means will be explored, both legal and illegal to help the church financially. (According to officials, the contraband, in the form of three gold bars weighing 100 grams, was found in the baggage of Fr. IssacKizhakkeparambil, 59, a priest, http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/Gold-seized-from-catholic-priest/article17082933.ece). Few state governments will divert temple and tax payers money to fund the 589 Compassion International funded churches. State government will try to takeover more Hindu temples. Time for Hindus to be vigilant and hope the action taken by the Central Government against organisation like Compassion Internationl is just the beginning and not the end.
(The writer is founder editor of www.swastik.net.in )
