பெண்டிரின் இரத்தத்தால் மகிமையடையும் ஏசு

Bishop admits to 'bloody blessing'
M.G. Radhakrishnan
Thiruvananthapuram, October 21, 2008

It was a confession extraordinary. John Thattunkal, the controversial bishop of the Latin Catholic Dioicese of Kochi, has admitted having conducted a blessing ceremony with human blood, considering it as that of Jesus Christ.

Considered a black magic ritual and disapproved by the official church, the 'bloody blessing' was conducted to bless the bishop's residence itself. The blood allegedly was given by a woman whom the bishop had adopted recently, which had triggered the huge controversy inside the church and the community.

A large section of the community members and also priests have demanded the resignation of the bishop from all offices in the church and have requested the papal office at Vatican to initiate punitive action against him, including de-frocking. The Latin Catholic church has ordered a probe into the issue.

Meanwhile, the 58-year-old bishop has admitted adopting the 26-year-old woman and said they have a spiritual relationship with each other. Following the outcry in the community against the adoption and the ongoing relationship between the bishop and the woman, Thattunkal has tendered an apology to the community for having caused the controversy although he did not find any mistake in any of his own deeds.

However, the Pope has also said he would go by whatever Rome directs and would nullify the adoption or quit from the bishop's post if Vatican wants so. Pope's representative - Apostolic Nuncio - at Kochi has already sent the details of the issue to Pope's headquarters at Vatican.