Fund diversion, black money in church

 The Enforcement Directorate (ED) of the Central government recently raided multiple premises, including the headquarters, of a Christian church in connection with an alleged black money scam related to accepting capitation fees for admission to a medical college run by the church in Trivandrum, Kerala.

This is only the tip of the iceberg. It’s time for the government to direct the church denominations to stop the black money business and fund diversion. It will be interesting to see the number of skeletons that will tumble out if the ED or Income-tax Department conducts a survey on the kind of black money being handled by various church denominations.

 Christian groups and dioceses in Kerala are rolling in black money and blatantly indulge in fund diversion. Various church denominations are running schools, colleges and hospitals, mostly permitted with the minority tag. They have also formed hundreds of trusts to facilitate money handling.

 Most of them hold cash in crores of rupees – all unaccounted. This money is collected as donations for school and college admissions, appointments and so on. This illegal money is then diverted for various purposes, including bribery and personal purposes.

 A diocese in central Kerala has floated 170 trusts to handle money matters. As trusts get various tax breaks, they find it easier to handle a portion of the money through this route. Believers are not getting any benefit from the money being accumulated by various denominations. This is because believers have no role in money management in dioceses. Bishops and priests are running the show in most places.

 Church must discourage black money and money laundering. When unaccounted cash transactions are illegal, why are some church institutions – especially educational institutions -- entertaining black money? Why are they encouraging black money to get things done?

  Let there be good governance and transparency in the church. Caesar's wife must be above suspicion. This is applicable to everyone in India, including the church whether it's Protestant or Catholic or Jacobite or Orthodox.

 They have no time for the spiritual rejuvenation or nourishment of the laity. They are busy with running colleges, schools, dairy farm and pathology lab. They are constantly on the lookout for new business opportunities. They care two hoots about the well-being of laity.

 A diocese recently received crores of rupees by chopping the trees in its rubber estate. Nobody knows where its income from rubber estate, dairy business, pathology labs and other businesses is going.

 Church in Kerala has fallen into the money trap. A large section of Church and clergy are running after money, power and position. Dioceses and parishes are rolling in money. They are buying land, renovating buildings and constructing multi-crore churches.

 Bishops and priests – including independent congregations -- want to control the accumulated money, land and institutions. They are not ready to give up their claims. On the contrary, they want more power and live a life king size. Each diocese is a kingdom where the bishop acts like a king. Bishop and the curia (administration) do whatever they want with the money collected from the believers who always remain in the dark.

  Money is diverted. Taxes are not paid properly. Duty evasion is rampant, especially in land transfer. Permissions and approvals from government authorities are taken by doling out kickbacks. Politicians are taken care of. The major reason for the ongoing battle between two groups in a church in Ernakulam is money and land.

 Satan has tightened the grip. Church needs to undergo glasnost and perestroika – that too asap.

 We are all supposed to follow the law of the land. Church, which holds vast real estate, buildings and institutions, is no exception. Church, like any other citizen, must pay the taxes properly. We’re not supposed to undervalue property to evade tax or launder black money. Unfortunately, there’s no transparency in the administration of Church as clergy has full control over everything. Believers are powerless and ignorant about the decisions of the clergy. Laity has no idea about the accounts of dioceses.

 Church needs good governance and transparency. That’s sorely lacking now.