Thomas Kuzhinapurath: An Indian Canonical Theologian

Thomas Kuzhinapurath: An Indian Canonical Theologian

Thomas John Kuzhinapuath (born May 24, 1969) is an author and priest of the SyroMalankara Catholic Church of India. Writing career Kuzhinapurath has published articles in both English and Malayalam.1 He served as student-chief editor of the philosophical journal, Mathavum Chinthayum. The University of Kerala has selected one of his articles for the pre-degree syllabus.2. Kuzhinapurath served as a contributor of Bhasha Thilakam. (University of Kerala Press, ISBN-81-86397-13-2).3 Kuzhinapurath has authored Daivajanam4 and Salvific Law,5 each of which has been published in two editions. Daivajanam is a collection of essays in Malyalam on sociotheological issues. His article within the volume argued that the juridical status of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church (which was as a Metropolitan) is incompatible with its jurisdictional history.6 In 2005, the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church was elevated to the status of a Major Archiepiscopal Church.7 Daivajanam presents the complex theological works of Karl Rahner, Jürgen Moltmann, Teilhard de Chardin, and Ladislas Orsy in ordinary unstrandable language without losing the depth of their thought. D. Babu Paul qualified the book as that of a "prophetic youth". 8 Daivajanam was reviewed in various

Mathavum Chinthayum (1991, 1994); VijnanaKairali (1997); Christian Orient (1998). The University of Kerala Bhashathilakam, Thiruvananthapuram, India, 1998. 3 The University of Kerala, Bhashathilakam, Thiruvananthapuram, India,1998 4 Fr. Thomas Kuzhinapurath,Daivajanam, Collection of Essays, ISBN 81-87655-13-5, Carmel Publishing Centre, Trivandrum, India, 1998. 5 Thomas Kuzhinapurath, Salvific Law , MS Publications, Thiruvananthapuram, India, 2008. 6 Kuzhinapurath, Thomas. "Malankara Katholikka Sabhayute Vyakthithvam" in Daivajanam, 1998, pp. 35-41; See also, Thomas Kuzhinanapurath, "Malankara Catholic Church sui iuris: Juridical Satus and Power of Governance" in www.pdfcoke.com; Thomas Kuzhinapurath, "Metropolitan Church sui iuris Juridical Status and Power of Governance", Christian Orient XXI/I, pp. 41-48 7 www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syro-Malankara_Catholic_Church 8 D. Babu Paul, “Upodkhadam”, Daivajanam, Carmel Publishing Centre, Trivandrum, India, 1998, pp. xi-xix. 1 2

journals,9 and on the fifth anniverssary of its publication, Daniel Poovannathil published a collection of five studies on Daivajanam in the volume Daivajanapadhanangal.10 Salvific Law is a doctoral work which studies the concept of law from a sotereological11 context. In this book Kuzhinapurath argues that the law of the church should fundamentally aim at the salvation of the soul.12 Dr. Daniel G. Fulton has commented in a supplement of L'Osservatore Romano, "Salvific Law succeeds in demonstrating that the Code of Canons of the Oriental Churches has a particular congruence with the Divine Will. "13 Early life Kuzhinapurath was born in 1969 to Pakalomattom Kuzhinapurath John Thomas and Annamma John at Omallur in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India. Kuzhinapurath had his school education in Aryabharati High School, Omallur near Pathanamthitta. The school is under the management of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. In 1984, Kuzhinapurath joined St. Aloysius Seminary, Trivandrum. By this time he had studied for Pre-Degree in the University of Kerala, and he passed the examination with first class. He then joined St. Mary’s Malankara Major Seminary, Trivandrum for his philosophical studies which lasted for three years. As a requirement of the studies he prepared a thesis, Towards the Absolute: A Comparative Study of the Evolutionary Theories of Chardin and Aurobindo. Dr. Thomas Naickamparambil, the director of the thesis qualified it as a "painstaking endeavour".14 The study of philosophy led Kuzhinapurath to the field of Malayalam fiction. And he wrote and published many short stories in Malayalam. A few of them are: "Vetikkettu", "Anveshanam", "Kelante Arthamkandethal".15 Along with this Thomas succeeded in taking a bachelor's degree from the University of Kerala. During his year of pastoral training, Kuzhinapurath was appointed in Archbishop's House, Trivandrum to assist the editorial work of the periodical, Christava Kahalam. During this time he could come closer to the life of the holy prelate, Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios and of Fr. Daniel Kadakampallil. After the successful completion of the pastoral training, Kuzhinapurath joined St. Joseph's Pontifical Institute , Mangalapuzha, Aluva for four years of theological studies. He prepared a theological thesis on the Christology of Karl Rahner under the guidance Dr. George Karakunnel. By this time Dr. Geevarghese Panicker, Aikyadeepam, July 1998, p.34; M. V. Thomas, Deepika, July 26,1998. 10 Daniel Poovannathil, ed. Daivajanapadhanangal. Carmel Publishing Centre, Trivandrum, 2002. 11 Sotereology is the Science which studies salvation 12 Philip Chempakassery, "Book Review", Aikya Samiksha, 4/2, 2007 13 Daniel G. Fulton, Book Review, L'Osservatore Romano, (Malayalam Edition Supplement) 1/21 (2008) p.vi.. 14 Thomas Naickamparambil, "An Appraisal", Towards The Absolute, Trivandrum, p. iv. 15 See, Christava Kahalam, 1987-1990. 9

Kuzhinapurath had published many theological articles in various journals16 and he became the Student-Chief Editor of the philosophico-theological journal Mathavum Chinthayum. In his final year of theological studies he co-edited the book, Viriyunna Navalokam, a scriptural study on the parables of Jesus. Priesthood Kuzhinapurath was ordained a priest for the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in 1994 at the age of 25. His first appointment was in St. John's Leprosy Hospital, Pirappancode, Trivandrum. In 1995 Fr. Kuzhinapurath started the Malankara Catholic Mission Centre at Attingal,Kerala.17 In 1996, Fr. Kuzhinapurath became the Chancellor of the Archieparchy of Trivandrum, where he assisted with the formulation and publication of the statutes of the Archieparchy of Trivandrum, of the Presbytral Council and of the Pastoral Council. In 1998 Fr. Kuzhinapurath was sent to Rome for higher studies in Oriental Canon Law (CCEO). In 2000 he took master's degree in Oriental Canon Law and he registered for Doctoral Research at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome where he studied under guidance of Bishop Dr. Dimitri Salachas, an authority in Oriental Canonical Studies. He completed the Research of Doctorate in August 2002. Kuzhinapurath was the contact person of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church for the Great Jubilee 2000 Celebrations in Rome. He had an audience with the Pope John Paul II and presented his book Daivajanam to the Holy Father.18 During his studies in Rome Fr. Kuzhinapurath went for pastoral work in a parish at Montecchio Emilia in Italy. He could establish the first Malankara Catholic Community in Italy (of Bethany Sisters) there at Montecchio Emilia in 2000. Fr. Thomas Kuzhinapurath visited United Nations Headquarters (UNO) at New York in 2000. At present, Fr. Thomas Kuzhinapurath is the Notary of the Major Archiepiscopal Tribunal of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.19 He serves as the Promoter of Justice of the Eparchial Tribunal of Mavelikkara.20 He is also working as the chaplain of Good Samaritan Home,Trivandrum, a centre which takes care of cancer patients. The centre offers accommodation and care for the patients of Regional Cancer Centre (RCC), Trivandrum. Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos released the second edition of Salvific Law by giving the first copy to Dr. Alexander Jacob IPS, the Director of Kerala Police Academy,

See, Mathavum Chinthayum, Christava Kahalam, Aikyadeepam, Preshita Keralam 1991-1994. See, Jose Thaiparambil, Malankara Catholic Church,Attingal: A Memento '97, Trivandrum, 1997 18 Monsignor Pedro Lopez Quintana, Letter to The Reverend Thomas Kuzhinapurath, The City of Vatican, Secretariate of State/First Section, General Affairs, 2 December 2000 quoted in Daniel Poovannathil, ed Daivajanapadhanangal, Carmel Publishing Centre, Trivandrum, 2002, p.4. 19 Malankara, December, 2007. 20 Amala Voice, May 2008 16 17

in the presence of Yuhanon Mar Chrysostom, Joshua Mar Ignathios, Abraham Mar Yulios and all the priests of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum on May 13,2008.21 Thomas Kuzhinapurath being an expert of Oriental Canon Law (CCEO) was invited to the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church to assist the discussions on the Particular Law, on July 15 -17, 2008 at the Catholicate Centre, Trivandrum.22 Various audio-visual Media in Kerala broadcasted talks and programmes on the theological vision and social activities of Thomas Kuzhinapurath.23

Malayala Manorama, May 14, 2008; Deepika, May 15, 2008; Mathrubhumi May 15, 2008 News of the Holy Episcopal Synod published on 30/07/08 23 All India Radio, Trivandrum, Talks Branch, Contract dated September 23, 2008; Power Vision TV, Guest Room, October 9, 2008, IST 19.30 21 22