A Catholic priest of the Syro-Malabar Church has formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Fr. Kuriakose Mattam, 73, vicar of St. Thomas Church, Mankuva, under the Idukki diocese, took the primary membership of the party on Monday. But within hours, the Bishop of Idukki Mar John Nellikunnel removed the priest from pastoral duties in the parish.
Fr. Jins Karakkat, chairman of the media commission of the Idukki diocese, said the priest joined the BJP without the permission of the bishop. “As per the canon law and the Catholic Church rules priests cannot join any political party,” said Fr. Karakkat.
