After 21 months of rigorous investigation, but with no evidence against the Retreat Centre, the Vincentians took their complaints to the Supreme Court. On 11 March 2008, the Division bench of the Supreme Court, after closely examining the report of the police investigation team, verified that the allegations levelled against the Retreat Centre in the anonymous letter were totally without fact.
Divine Retreat Centre, Kerala
The Centre began as a preaching ministry by the Vincentian fathers in 1990, and has become the largest Catholic retreat centre in the world. Over 10 million pilgrims from all over the world have attended retreats there since 1990. Retreats are conducted in English, Hindi, Konkani, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, and Telugu, and are back-to-back, non-stop every week of the year. The retreat fee, which is very modest, includes accommodation and all meals.
Criminal investigation of the Retreat Centre
Two years ago it seemed that the Retreat Centre would be destroyed, not by natural forces, but by an anonymous letter that contained allegations of criminal activity (including murder) against the Vincentian Congregation at the Centre. The High Court of Kerala, took up the case suo motu (on its own initiative) and ordered an inquiry into the affairs of the Retreat Centre. A special investigation team was formed for this purpose, and according to the Vincentians, there ensued two years of continued harassment by the police, scurrilous media coverage, and fundamentalist propaganda The Congregation has reported on its web site that they were especially shocked by the humiliating manner in which the police raids were carried out in the Centre on 30 September and 01 October 2006: the way the sick, including the mentally challenged were subjected to torturous harassment.
The Supreme Court also ruled that High Court judges cannot treat anonymous letters containing allegations against individuals or institutions as Public Interest Litigation and order suo motu investigations. The judges further noted that “setting criminal law in motion is fraught with serious consequences, which cannot be taken lightly by the High Court…The High Court may not direct an investigation by constituting a special investigation team on the strength of anonymous petitions. The High Court cannot be converted into Station Houses.”
The judges noted, “No judicial order can even be passed by any Court without providing a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the person likely to be affected by such order and particularly when such order results in drastic consequences of affecting one’s own reputation.” They stated, “An institution’s own reputation is a priceless treasure. History teaches us that the independence of the judiciary is jeopardized when courts become embroiled in the passions of the day and assume primary responsibility to resolve the issues which are otherwise not entrusted to it.”
Hence the Supreme Court ruled that the High Court judge ought not to have entertained the anonymous petition and ordered the police inquiry, without first making sure that it was “not for any personal gain or private profit or of the political motivation or other oblique consideration.”
The Press as well as the religious and political leaders have hailed the verdict and celebrated it as a triumph of truth. Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, the Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese and President of Kerala’s Catholic Bishops’ Conference, in welcoming the verdict, said that the ruling of the Supreme Court has brought spiritual and mental solace to the faithful and to all right-thinking people.
The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Conference stated, in its press release, that “the Supreme Court verdict is the triumph of truth and justice.†The bishops further pointed out that “it is folly to imagine that lies and false allegations would succeed for long. The verdict helped to bring to light the true facts about the great humanitarian service carried out by the Retreat Centre bringing great peace of mind and spiritual consolation to millions, especially the sick and the suffering. The verdict is welcomed as recognition of the charitable works of the Catholic Church as a whole.â€
Today, Divine Retreat Centre continues to minister to the millions who come through its doors searching for the Way, the Truth and the Light.
Additional information on the Divine Retreat Centre and the Supreme Court decision is available by searching the web under Divine Retreat Centre, Kerala. Information on how to sponsor a seminarian in Kerala is also available at the Retreat Centre site, or by contacting the author at Catholic Insight. The cost per year is very low, while the rewards are inestimable.
Vincentian Congregation
Foundation
The Vincentian Congregation, a clerical society of priests and brothers in the Syro-Malabar Church, comes under the category of ‘Societies of Common Life’ ad instar religiosorum. It was established in 1904 in Kerala by Very Rev. Fr. Varkey Kattarath, who led a group of diocesan priests to found a congregation on the model of the Congregation of the Mission (C.M.), founded by St. Vincent de Paul in France. After an unstable beginning, the group was officially called the Vincentian Congregation in 1938, and raised to diocesan status in 1977.
Purpose and Charism
The Congregation draws its spirit and distinctive character from the life, works, and Common Rules of St. Vincent de Paul. The Congregation in Kerala has taken as its motto “He has sent me to proclaim the Good News to the poor†(Luke. 4:18). The two main aims of the Vincentian Congregation are:
1. Preaching the Good News to the poor. All retreats held in Divine Retreat Centre are aimed at renewing the lives of the people in a deep and living experience of the Sacraments of the Church. The seven Sacraments are holy means of supernatural life instituted by Christ through which the saving power of God is bestowed upon everyone. It is through the power of anointing of the Holy Spirit that the Sacraments become effective signs of salvation.
2. Caring for the welfare of the poor and afflicted.
In the different Homes attached to the Divine Retreat Centre, the Vincentians share their love and resources with more than 3,000 permanent residents. The St. Vincent’s Home cares for AIDS patients.The Divine Care Centre is home to the mentally ill. The Divine De-Addiction Centre looks after those addicted to alcohol and drugs. The Divine Mercy Home has elderly men and women abandoned by their families. The Maria Santhi Bhavan Home for the Aged cares for elderly women. St. Mary’s Home cares for destitute mothers and children.
The specific purpose of the Congregation to preach the Gospel to the poor is accomplished through popular mission retreats, charismatic retreats, and retreats for priests and religious. Almost 25% of the Vincentian community is engaged in full-time preaching, and a number of retreat centres have been established. It has been found that about 15% of those who attend the retreats are non-Christian.
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Updated: Oct 24th, 2008 – 12:40:30
Tags: DIvine Word Retreat Centre, India, Kerela, Vincentians
