Mathai Chacko MLA's Extreme Unction

Who is Mathai Chacko...

We are in the midst of a another religion vs ideals battle. Its being waged in Kerala between communist leaders and the clergymen over the extreme unction (extreme unction is last rituals for the sick on death bed) administered to communist party legislator, Mathai Chacko. At the outset it might sound very locale issue, but as I just running through the line of arguments, I realise that this is not just between Pinarayi Vijayan (State General Secretary, CPM) & Fr. Paul Chittilappilly (Catholic Bishop, Thamarassery Archdiocese), but another face off between religious authority and communist correctionist forces.

Mr Mathai Chacko, the late MLA was known to be an ardent communist follower. Born in an orthodox family with several priests and nuns, probably Mathai Chacko was an aberration in the family tradition that he chose to be a communist. He soon rose in the communist leadership in northern Malabar region of Kerala and elected as a legislator from Thiruvambady constituency in north Malabar as a Left Democratic Front representative (LDF - Communist led alliance. The constituency itself is supposed to be a congress stronghold with considerable christian population. He won that seat is a proof of his credibility as a person than a representative of communist party).

Then he was diagnosed for Carcinoma at terminal stages. He passed away about an year ago. He was consecrated outside a church cemetery as per his last wishes. But the issue of extreme unction came up in a veil almost an year later when catholic bishop Fr. Paul Chittilappilly mentioned that he administered last rites according to Mr. Mathai's wishes. The communist legions gathered themselves into action to save their hero from any denigration of his stature as a principled communist activist. Pinarayi Vijayan, the all powerful communist leader in Kerala took it upon himself to comment on the issue. On the first death anniversary of the MLA, Over his commemoration speech, Pinarayi Vijayan went overboard with his remarks on the bishop. He called the bishop as a 'wretched creature'. The catholic church couldn't have tolerated their bishop being termed in such mean language.

What ensued is a media war of words and changed positions on this topic. Media pulled out records of Mr.Mathai's marriage being sanctified in church. How can an accomplished leader agree to any church sanctification to his marriage? This further angered the communist leaders. Not even the widow is spared from media attention as their marriage became a disputed event.

We do not know for sure, if Mr Mathai requested for unction or if he had after thoughts on his ideals and principles. We do not know if he was conscious to the last moment. We do not know if someone from the family wanted him to have this administered (taking upon themselves the salvation of this strayed soul, given that he was unconscious).

Why should churchmen be wrong...

The boundary between religion and politics is as blurred as ever. Will religion be content working with spiritual and meta physical aspects of its followers, or will go to the extent of ensuring the welfare of its members in every sphere of life. What was the real intent of the bishop when he said that Mathai Chacko received the extreme unction and rosary from him. Was he really trying to make a point that however one live this life, the ultimate inner peace will come from the holiest arms of the church? Was he trying to recreate an all familiar story of the strayed sheep coming back to his shepherd?

Mathai Chacko led his life as a true communist (at least in the sense of abhorring all whats religious). It fits in well in church faith to have someone repent on his misdeeds and come back to join the brethren. But does church need such portrayals at the cost of a dead man's reputation and ideals?

Can church, for that matter any religion, take responsibility for all humanity to be in the path towards virtuousness. Can they dictate rules and regulations for doing so?

I know the answers to these questions are not simple. In some sense the questions indicate my favors for the answers. I think we should have serious retrospection on why should church take over arching responsibility for an individuals destiny and principles, especially for someone who has chosen to lead a life which he thinks right for him...

The case of Marxist forces.....

By choosing to start of a nasty verbal war against the bishop and church in general Communist party is deviating from democratic ways of debating and disagreeing(the wide held belief is that in Marxist scheme of things democracy is applicable to you as long as you proclaim Marxist revolutionary principles). Why cant Marxists exercise restraint on their words and actions when it comes to beliefs of sections. Why do they think that faith is something they can always desecrate. Why would anyone score political mileage over anyone by disrespecting something which is considered to be virtuous by sections.

While empowering the most needy sections via organisation and party provided education Communist party in Kerala probably created a social model for growth. But does that mean that they can chain the very own proletariat whom they have claimed to have saved from perpetual exploitation. Are they becoming religion by itself by denying the members any independent thinking or existence of their own?

Where does it lead us to...

The current spat of events is not one off. Its following some lasting tensions between the clergy and the communists in Kerala. One gets a sense that Marxist has decided to capture this as the opportune moment to seize the initiative from the right wing forces in Kerala. The current disputes over educational institutions is a case in point. The aggression and continued stance of aggression is a pointer. But I just leave the forum with these thoughts. We all know that its a never ending struggle, but the point is how disciplined we will be in taking our causes ahead.