Dear Dr. George, Dubai
You wrote "In my childhood people in Kunnamkulam used to say it is easy to get a priest if one just to go to the bazaar some one will be sitting in pan-shop chitchatting. In nineties I could witness priests there riding on 'new horses' with the speed of a wind. Recently I am seeing them in modern cars. When our Lord abundantly give them we must Praise the Lord.
The prayerful saintly fathers some times get the' siddhi' of doing miracles in the name of Jesus, the God. Once they get the sidhi it is their obligation to praise Lord not to cash on it. Disciples used their sidhi to help the needy and never cashed it.
Those who tries to procure cash on it has the example of 'nayaman and leprosy'"
Good words...But just have a witness from a humble servant of God's vineyard who has more than 22 years of service in this church.
After college graduation one reaches seminary for another 5 years there to serve the church in all his heart. But when he comes out of seminary and when he thinks of a marriage life, he will realize then that the church is not going to support him any way (a priest's salary is fixed Rs.2500 by our elaborate system) So after getting out
of the seminary, the deacon would think for a while and comes with a wise decision to join for further studies to get a job in a school or a college as a teacher or a professor. Like any others in our corporate management, the clergy also has to pay the same donation. In his life he has to offer party at least 3 times, when becoming a
deacon, Priest and for marriage. This includes a minimum of Rs.1,50,000. Many think that the party is offered by others or by church...I do not have any experience like this...it was from my family only.
OK...let us take priesthood on en-cashing way. I was in Kerala for 11 years as priest and 11 years in Madras diocese. Because all the "covers" I got from faithful was given to charity, it was always accountable
and when I left India (I have just gone through the books), I understood that the amount I got as cover was less than Rs.20,000. ( all this money had gone to charity only. Also to say I give tithe to my church every month.) In India you would not get a scooter for that amount if it was all saved in an account. If a priest in our church seems to be rich it may be because he may have a job other than priesthood. His Kochamma may also be working. If this is the truth, tell me who has the right in our church to criticize the clergy, if he seems to be rich.
Don't compare the priests coming to middle east to serve the less than 10 congregation in whole of our church. Out of 1500 priests of our church what percentage is this 10 priests are there in the Middle East? In America there is no cover income. All achens are doing some other jobs and making their own livelihood. For instance, our MKK achen is the director of Libraries of one full state here. He gives tithe more than $20000 to his church. I bet no one compete with him in this in his parish. In America there is no centralized salary for priests. It starts from $500 an month. Still you think we are en cashing the priesthood?
As priests we do our best to serve the church. In Philadelphia, we all achens come together in a fellowship and we introduced intercession, meditation and Bible classes. Less than 10% attends these sessions.(We have 250 families here in our area in 3 parishes.). Now you all are telling that the church is not teaching anything. I think you may be aware of Indian Orthodox Herald. We the board of trustees run by our own...till date only one has come forward with a $75 of helping hand, it was from a youth born and brought up here. We spent thousands of Dollars to sustain it for the good of the future generation of our church.The donation button is there on it's bottom. My wife and children used to say me, it is the money for our livelihood.If this is a fact the faithful are really indebted to the clergy of our church by all means.
All the priests when coming out of the seminary learning this, the church is not going to support them, they go for higher studies and live their livelihood. Please stop pelting stones over them, for they don't react.
