What's the truth? Report from IANS

"The version that seminary authorities are giving is that my son was mentally unstable. This is baseless as he had secured first rank in his master's from Banglore and specialised in psychiatry,"

"Before he joined here, he was counselling elders in an institution run by the church. Moreover, he was selected after a series of tests, interviews and even an elaborate medical check-up. If that is the case, can anyone become mentally deranged in a week,"

NRI father blames son's suicide on ragging in seminary

IANS (Indo Asian News Service)

Posted: Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 01:04 am EST

Kottayam (Kerala): The Dubai-based father of a seminary student, who committed suicide here in Kerala, alleged that ragging in the theology college drove his son to take the extreme step.

Robin John, 24, who had joined the Mar Thoma Theological Seminary here to become a priest, allegedly committed suicide in his hostel room June 10. He had joined the seminary just a week earlier.

Robin's father, C.V. John, who flew back from Dubai to his home-town Mavelikara on hearing the news, alleged that his son was a victim of ragging and was "murdered" by a group of five senior students.

"The version that seminary authorities are giving is that my son was mentally unstable. This is baseless as he had secured first rank in his master's from Banglore and specialised in psychiatry," John told IANS Monday.

"Before he joined here, he was counselling elders in an institution run by the church. Moreover, he was selected after a series of tests, interviews and even an elaborate medical check-up. If that is the case, can anyone become mentally deranged in a week," asked John.

"The post-mortem report says that my son's death was due to hanging. But there are serious flaws in the report and at the appropriate time I will expose the lapses in the post-mortem report. Now my only aim is to see that the killers of my son are brought to justice," the distraught father said.

John has also met the supreme head of the Mar Thoma Church, who assured him that justice would be done to him.

Kottayam Superintendent of Police Mathew Polikarp, however, said the preliminary investigation has not pointed to ragging as being the cause of death.

"We are investigating the case in detail," said Polikarp. The police are also investigating the mobile phone records of the deceased.

John alleges that the institution has been under attack for its ragging culture in the past too.

"Nine students, who were supposed to have completed their course in 2006, still remain suspended on ragging charges. One can understand about ragging in professional colleges but such things happening in a theology institution is really sad," said John.

Why all the cover up?

"Now claims are also being made that my son had some psychiatric problem. But his admission to the seminary itself was after rigorous medical tests at the mission hospital and there were no inconsistencies then."

Kerala boy kin blame ragging for death
23 Jun 2008, 0254 hrs IST, Ananthakrishnan G ,TNN

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A week after a student allegedly committed suicide at a famous theological seminary in Kerala's Kottayam district, his parents have come out with the claim that the boy was a victim of ragging. The seminary has denied the allegation.

"My son was not the kind of person who would take his life. I strongly believe he was a victim of ragging," Robin John's father C V John told TOI on phone from Kottayam. Robin had joined the Marthoma Theological Seminary on June 2 after a masters degree course in social welfare (MSW) at the Bangalore Garden City College.

"He was a brilliant student and had scored first rank in MSW. It was his desire to become a priest. But a week after joining the seminary, on the night of June 10, we got a call saying Robin had hung himself in his hostel room," said the grief-stricken father, who works in Dubai.

But what made him suspect it was not a suicide? "A day before the incident, Robin called home and said life at the seminary was difficult, but did not elaborate. Also we came to know that there was an incident of ragging in the college two years back and nine students were expelled," said John.

He added that there was one more reason for his doubt. "Robin's room was said to be broken open by inmates of the seminary, his body brought down and taken to the hospital. The explanation given to me was that this was done as they thought he may be alive. But ideally they should have called police," explained John. "Now claims are also being made that my son had some psychiatric problem. But his admission to the seminary itself was after rigorous medical tests at the mission hospital and there were no inconsistencies then."

Kottayam SP Mathew Polycarp said it was a case of suicide. "The post mortem report says Robin committed suicide." he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Kerala_boy_kin_blame_ragging_for_death/rssarticleshow/3154810.cms

Mar Thoma Seminary - Mystery Murder?

Jan 2007 - Mysterious death of Anil George Abraham, 3rd Year seminary student.

2007 - Ragging incident and complete suspension of Ordinations from Kottayam Mar Thoma Seminary

June 2008- Suicide or Murder? What is happening in our Church? Why is there a concerted effort to cover up all these issues? Isn't it time for the Church and its leadership to reflect and contemplate the seriousness of this issue? Even if it is not a murder, why was the Church not able to identify help one of its own?




Date:22/06/2008 http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/22/stories/2008062253350300.htm

---

Kerala - Kottayam

Controversy over theology student’s death

Staff Reporter

KOTTAYAM: Parents of Robin John, a first year Theology student at Mar Thoma Theological Seminary here, who had met with unnatural death last week, have sought the intervention of the Chief Minister and the Home Minister to ensure effective inquiry into the death.

C.V. John, father of Robin John, who hails from Mavelikkara, said there was no need for his son to commit suicide. Robin, 24, had passed MSW programme from an institution in Bangalore with first rank and had joined the seminary for Bachelor of Divinity (BD) programme.

He had joined the institution on June 2. On June10 night, the parents received a phone call from Kottayam telling them that Robin had met with an accident. When contacted, Fr Abraham Kuruvilla, principal of the seminary told The Hindu, that they had no other evidences that pointed to anything other than a suicide. The police were investigating and the seminary would cooperate with the investigation to bring out the truth, he said.

© Copyright 2000 - 2008 The Hindu

More details on the Murder/Suicide!

Date: Monday, 23 June, 2008

The death of a priesthood internee at the Marthoma Theological Seminary at Kottayam has become a controversy with his parents submitting a memoranda to Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan and top officials of the State police requesting a probe into the incident. The seminary authorities had termed the death as a case of suicide, and there was no evidence in the post-mortem report to prove otherwise, but the parents firmly suspect that their son had not committed suicide.

Robin John, a fresh priesthood intern at the seminary, was found hanging from the ceiling of his hostel room on May 10, just eight days after he had joined the seminary. Robin's father John said there were contradictions in the versions of death provided by the principal and Robin's classmates. He said only a thorough probe could bring out the truth about his son's death. Robin had joined the seminary after passing Master of Social Welfare.

Robin's parents told newsmen that there was no reason why their son should commit suicide. They suspected that Robin's death was related to the cruel ragging he should have undergone in the hostel of the seminary. They said the seminary, though an institution for moulding priests, was infamous for several incidents of ragging..

"My son had not hung himself from the ceiling, I am sure. If he had been found hanging, he was hung there after he was dead," John said. He also said that he was not ready to believe the versions given by the priests in the seminary or senior clerics of the church.

"I told the respected priests that the truth could not be hidden forever. Even if the truth could be kept hidden from the police and the society, they will have to answer the question when the day of reckoning comes," he said.

There have been several incidents of ragging in the seminary and in many cases this had become issues in the local society and the church also. At least nine interns had been expelled from the seminary on charges of ragging. But priests at the seminary tried to play down the matter. However, they did not deny the reports of ragging.

"There has not been even a single incident of ragging which is similar to what we generally call ragging. There is a particular fear in the society about ragging. This could be due to reports of ragging from the new self-financing colleges. Nothing of that sort happens here," said a priest.

"I can assure you that no ragging would take place in here. There could be a welcome party or something like that. But nothing like ragging has ever taken place here," he said.

~ A concerned reader!

Many Foundation Stones & confused Aspirations!

----- Original Message -----
From: S.B.
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 8:59 AM
Subject: Mar Thoma camp Centre at Lonavala


Dear friends

Mar Thoma camp Centre at Lonavala was a dream project of the young generation of Mumbai Diocese. Now the drem is going to be fulfilled on 27th may 2007. As per the direction of the Metropolitan, Marthoma Yuvajana Sakhyam and Mar Thoma Sunday School and Mumbai Diocese has taken it as a joint venture to build the camp centre.

The ground breaking ceremony of the camp centre will be conducted on 27th May 2007 at 4pm. All are cordially invited to come and bless this solemn occasion

Thanks & Regards,

S.B


----- Reply Message -----

From: T. S.
Date: Fri, 25 May 2007
Subject: Re: Mar Thoma camp Centre at Lonavala


Dear S.,

That is "great" news!
The third foundation stone laying ceremony of the same camp Centre!

1st Foundation Stone: For Youth Centre on 16.101993
by Rt. Rev. Geevarghese Mar Athanasius.

2nd Foundation Stone:
For Sunday School Camp Centre on the same plot in March 2004 by His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Metroplitan (He was not informed of the First Stone).

3rd Foundation Stone? 27.05.2007
For "knowbody knows what it is" structure by Rt. Rev. Mar Barnabas on the same plot! Or is it without any stone, a castle in the air?

Qualifies for Limca / Guinnes Books of Records
Youth League members are told it is their project. Sunday School Central Committee is told that it is their project. Gulf / US NRIs will be told that it is their Holiday Home / Resort. They can pay US$ 10,000 and get 7 days TIME SHARE every year for "their own cottage"!

Caution:
On a legal opinion taken by the Mar Thoma Metropolitan says that the land is bought for Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam for a Camp Centre / Youth Centre by money raised by Yuvajana Sakhyam members.

After, construction the property will remain with Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam. Anybody who "invests" in this project may kindly note this.

And the money collected will go to a registered charitable Trust by name: Western India Zonal Assembly of the Mar Thoma Church who are the trustees of the Youth Centre land.

'Assurances' are given by another body, Mar Thoma Diocesan Assembly of Mumbai Diocese which has no legal sanction to meddle with the Zonal Assembly. This is not even a registered body.

Regards
T. S.

Ragging at Marthoma Vaideeka Seminary-Kottayam

The biggest secret which every one knows and does not want to publicly speak about is the ragging incident at the Kottayam Mar Thoma Seminary.


The story supposedly is:
A student of the seminary was ragged by fellow seminarians. He complained to the Metropolitan and left the seminary. This action was followed by an inquiry by the Church Authorities and the Metropolitan. When the seminarians were asked to confess who was the culprits they chose to stick together as a band of brothers. They were under the impression the entire batch cannot be punished and would be let off lightly if they all admitted guilt together.

But knowing our Metropolitan, he decided to suspend all ordinations for this year indefinitely, till some one came forward and took the blame. The waiting game is started. June is the month when most ordinations take place and none has happened this year.

There was a defense from the seminary that:
"The event was purely designed to familiarize the new student to his new setting and to help him to overcome the fear of public speaking. The person probably realized the enormity of his undertaking when faced with the spartan living conditions at the seminary and was looking for the first exit out."

Why blame the student who left? At times we should remember this is not an ordinary college and most people at the seminary are graduates and are there to be the next ordained ministers of the Church. I guess they should learn to accept responsibility and tell the truth before any of them are made priests!

Well that is only my opinion. Forgiveness is part of our Christian tradition but it comes after a confession of guilt which right now - no one wants to do.

Let us uphold the ministry of the Church in prayer and hope this incident comes to a quick close. Let us also remember those who are studying to become priests - may they remember that they are being trained to be leaders of our church and to provide guidance to lay people.

If the Lamps themselves are not lighted then how will the Church carry out the motto - Lighted to Lighten?


If you know more details on the incident or disagree with the above article - please comment! Thanks!

Kuwait Vicar paid off Fines from Own pocket!

The Kuwait Vicar's traffic offenses have been taken off the blog cause the moderators felt it is not the forum to carry the topic unless it deals with faith and other issues related to the youth of the Church.

But it should be noted that the vicar did pay it from his own pocket!

We thank the readers for their comments and feedback! However we also would encourage you to send in topics and comments that we can put up!

God Bless!