Father Dominic Valanmanal, the Catholic priest from Kerala who stirred a controversy by comparing autistic children to animals, has been uninvited by Canada to attend a parish retreat in July.
In a letter, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary which had invited the priest for a ‘deliverance and healing’ retreat confirmed that they had cancelled the invite on June 19.
“Permission was granted to Father Valanmanal on June 6, 2019 to facilitate the parish retreat in July. Statements and claims that Father Valanmanal had made regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was brought forward as a concern prompting the Diocese’s reconsideration,” the letter read.
Following this, the invite was cancelled by the Diocese as the priest’s statements about Autism Spectrum Disorder “did not reflect the pastoral care and concern that the Church has towards children and adults living with autism and their families.” The pastor of the Calgary parish has also cancelled the event which the accused priest was supposed to lead.
The letter also communicated that the Diocese was reviewing its internal processes to ensure visiting priests are thoroughly scrutinised in the future.
The rejection from the diocese in Canada comes after Ireland cancelled the priest’s October invite to preach at a community centre in Dublin. The issue was highlighted after a change.org petition demanded action against the priest.
In a video, Father Dominic Valanmanal talks about autistic children and holds their parents responsible for the condition of their kids. In the sermon he can he heard saying, “Why does this generation have autism and hyperactivity? The children of this generation – young men, young women – should keep this in mind. Alcohol, cigarette, beedi, narcotics, paan, adultery, masturbation, homosexuality, porn – if you are addicted to any of these, I say to you in the name of God. Dear children, keep in mind, tomorrow when you get married and have children, there is a high possibility of bearing these type of children. It is because the anointing (sanctity) is lost. The young men and women are not filled with the Holy Spirit anymore. Afterwards, they lead an animal-like life. They copulate like animals. They bear children like animals. Therefore, those children will also be like animals. Animals do not speak, they do not have ears and can’t hear. It is not human.”
Fr Dominic is a priest in the Diocese of Kanjirapally in Kerala.