Freeze on FCRA accounts linked to Vizhinjam protestors: Latin Church accuses Centre of apathy

Thiruvananthapuram: The central government has frozen the accounts of the Thiruvananthapuram archdiocese of the Latin Catholic Church, citing criminal cases filed against it during the Vizhinjam protests, church authorities have alleged.

According to church sources, Archbishop Thomas Netto and Auxiliary Bishop R Christudas, among others, who serve on the boards of institutions receiving aid through FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act), are affected by this action.

"When criminal cases are registered against board members, accounts receiving foreign aid can be frozen. As a result, the poor are suffering," a prominent priest of the congregation stated anonymously.

"The criminal case includes charges against the Archbishop and others, some of whom were not even present at the protests. Despite repeated notifications, the case remains unresolved. We have raised this issue with influential members of the ruling party at the centre, but a resolution is yet to be reached," he added.

The priest also highlighted that a pastoral letter read in churches expressed concern over the lack of action even a year after the incident. The Trivandrum Social Service Society, operating under the archdiocese, focuses on the welfare of the underprivileged. These initiatives rely on financial support from government-approved bodies. However, with accounts frozen, many associated with these projects have lost their jobs. Furthermore, financial aid from Rome remains inaccessible, he explained