One would almost think that this must have come from the Onion, but alas it is legit.
A Catholic bishop in Kerala has landed in trouble after adopting a young woman in Kochi in defiance of the Church’s Canon Law.
Fifty-eight-year-old Bishop John Thattungal of Cochin stunned a meeting of priests of his diocese October 1 when he made the controversial announcement that he had adopted a 26-year-old woman, one of the four daughters of an Orthodox Church priest from Pathnamthitta district, Church sources said.
He also claimed that he had the consent of the woman’s family for adoption, which was carried out at the sub-registrar office in Mattanchery here, September 15. The woman was residing at a home-stay inside the Bishop’s House compound for a while, but left for Pathanamthitta after the controversy surfaced.
The bishop had reportedly met her during a pilgrimage abroad along with her parents a few months ago.
…
Thattungal was quoted by a local newspaper as saying that he had only “fatherly love” for the woman in whom he found “spiritual enlightenment”. He had reportedly been impressed by her “spirituality and divine experience” during the holy journey.However, the priests of his diocese term his claims as senseless and against the Church laws and tradition. They also questioned his moral and ecclesiastical right to adopt a laywoman.
Bishop Thattungal too hit back at his critics, saying he was being victimised by vested interests for unearthing some frauds. But Acharuparambil denied there was a lobby working against the Cochin bishop.
I mean what is this guy thinking? Adopting a 26 yr old woman?
My favorite part is that he is now claiming to be a victim of special interests! Who would that be, the powerful Catholic-anti-bishops-adopting-a-grown-woman lobby?
I realize that I see everything through a political lens these days when the first thought that popped in my head is that he should just go on national television and say, “Uh …here’s the thing … if it seems crazy that I would adopt a grown woman …uh … it’s because it isn’t true. When I was thirty two uh .. she was just a baby! My opponents have babies. Uh … I just didn’t want to be punished with a baby when they are all needy and smelly so I … uh … made the choice to wait until I adopted. But the real issue is the economy and President Bush …”
Then the media could say that he won the debate and the Pope was cranky and aggressive. Issue solved.
October 16, 2008 at 6:50 pm
In the west church is facing homosexuality within priests & nuns.In India it is pure sexuality.
India is great
October 16, 2008 at 7:23 pm
“Thattungal was quoted by a local newspaper as saying that he had only “fatherly love” for the woman in whom he found “spiritual enlightenment”. He had reportedly been impressed by her “spirituality and divine experience” during the holy journey.”
Did he actually say this with a straight face? If so then the man deserves an Oscar!
October 16, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Perhaps I don’t fully understand the vow of perfect chastity pertaining to holy orders in the Roman rite (disturbing thow it may be that I’m Roman Catholic.) I thought the main premise was that family responsibility would inevitably conflict with sheparding a flock, particularily as the head of a diocese (even most Eastern Rites don’t ordain mairried bishops, Antioch one notable exception.)
Adopting a 26 year old woman can be quite demanding (my father raised a biological one right after she divorced.)
Even so, I like the innuendo pertaining to last night’s debate. I guess if you lie loud enough and often enough some people will inevitably believe you (in spite of extensive documentation to the contrary.)
http://www.nrlc.org/ObamaBAIPA/Obamacoveruponbornalive.htm
October 16, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Perhaps the bishop looked into her eyes and saw her soul.
Oh,yeah.
— Mack
October 17, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I call Jessica Simpson! Can I adopt her?