KOCHI: “If I say something, it would be according to my belief. I have the courage to tell the truth. And I also like to be criticised,” Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil once said.
A religious leader, who believed in plain-speaking, Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil had a clear opinion that the Church should not intervene in party politics. His contributions to Kerala society are immense.
It was in 2009 while releasing his widely-discussed and thoroughly-interpreted autobiographical work Straight from the Heart that the Cardinal did some plain-speak. He said it was wrong for bishops to get involved in the selection of candidates. The opinion came at a time when some socio-religious leaders were projecting themselves as potential middlemen for the elections to the Lok Sabha.
Straight from the Heart was indeed from the depths of his heart. The book, which contains many revelations and personal opinions on socio-political issues, had sparked off some controversies.
In an interview before the release of the book the Cardinal said: “The Marxists and we are brothers, but when the brothers fight, you have the fiercest fight. Cooperating with Communists does not mean I have accepted the principles of Marxism.”
He had also revealed his appreciation for the Marxist approach in finding solutions to the issues of the poor and their sufferings.
Similarly, the cardinal had observed some positive elements in the approach of the BJP in certain matters like the Indian culture, religious values and respect towards women. Later, he himself gave a clarification to various factors mentioned in the book. “I have merely said that the Catholics could not accept the religious fundamentalism of the BJP or the atheism of the Marxists.” he said.
The Cardinal also pointed to the need for liberating nuns from the ‘pitiable situation’ in which they are. He had said that the nuns are often kept under submission by the priests.
In 2010, once again Vithayathil became the centre of attention when he openly came out against the government move to regulate reproduction technologies. He pointed out that the move would change the meaning and definitions of relations like husband and wife and the concept of marriage.
A spiritual leader who dared to express his opinions in public and a visionary who was ready to accept criticisms, that was Mar Vithayathil.