A Thrissur court has slapped a fine of Rs 9.95 lakh on a church for refusing final funeral sacraments to a professor who wrote a book which was against Church’s interests.
Judge Hareesh G ordered East Kerala CSI Church Bishop K G Daniel and the vicar of St Mathyas Church, Ellumpuram to pay the compensation. The court was deciding on the petition filed by Professor CC Jacob’s wife Mary Jacob, claiming that Church did not allow to entomb her husband in the family tomb of church cemetery which had tarnished his reputation.
Following Church’s refusal Professor was buried in their house compound which was not an acceptable practice for Christians.
“This court order is a relevant for all the churches of Kerala,” Fr. CV Joseph a relative of professor C C Jacob said in a press meet.
The court has also mentioned that the stand from Bishop was against humanitarian values.
The Times of India reports that court heavily came down on Bishop’s approach and said that denying him funeral rites available to all community members infringed on rights and beliefs of Jacob and his family .
Jacob was a history professor at Henry Baker College in Melukavu in Idukki and was an active founding member of the CSI East Kerala diocese. He died in 2013. His book “Baptism, a study”, which was published in 2006 had mentioned that everyone should have the right to choose their faith once they attain maturity rather than baptizing them when they are infant. This had allegedly hurt the church’s feelings and he had been ostracized by church.