Priest accused of bid to control donations
Woman reportedly manhandled by the priest during protest by parishioners
Over 55 parishioners of St Anthony’s Church, Mettuguda, and the parish priest Father U.J. Chinnappa Reddy got into an ugly brawl with allegations of corruption and rude behaviour being hurled at the priest.
However, the priest strongly refuted all the allegations saying that the protests were stage-managed by two employees of the church.
Father Reddy said the protest was planned by two employees of the church, Mr. Peter Mellon, the clerk and Mr Sunil, catechist.
A section of church members also alleged that the priest was trying to replace the service staff with his henchmen to take control of donations and monthly subscriptions.
During a heated argument that broke out on the church premises on Tuesday, it was alleged that the priest had reportedly manhandled a women parishioner who was part of the protest.
The parishioners agitated in front of St Anthony's shrine raising slogans: “Chinnappa, down down!” against the priest. It was around this time when the woman was manhandled by the priest. But all efforts to connect with the woman proved futile as she refused to respond.
Meanwhile, speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Mr. Paul Anthony, a parishioner, explained, “Father U.J. Chinnappa Reddy has been the parish priest for St Anthony’s for over 3 years now. As a religious head of the church he is responsible for its welfare and the grievances of the parishioners, but when he is approached by the parishioners, his behaviour is awfully cruel; he humiliates the parishioners.”
Over 55 parishioners of St Anthony’s Church, Mettuguda and the parish priest Father U.J. Chinnappa Reddy got into an ugly brawl with allegations of corruption and rude behaviour being hurled at the priest.
Following the protest at the premises, the police was called by Father Chinnappa himself; however, no formal complaint has been filed. The parishioners approached the Archbishop’s house with a demand to transfer the priest.
The priest alleged that the two have been swindling money from the church donations.
He said the parishioners used vulgar language against priest and nuns. “The allegations on me are not correct. I was never part of the protest, only when the Chikalguda police arrived at the spot, I interacted with the group,” the Father said.
The church’s weekly income is over `2 lakh. Irudynathan (Sunil) an employee with the church said, “Every church has an independent Parish council committee comprising senior church members chaired by the priest who regulates the income and expenditure of the church, but at St Anthony, the priest controls the income.”
Another parishioner, Mr Harry Francis added, “Father Chinnappa Reddy takes independent decisions and in case of any hazard, he blames it on the parishioners. At several instances he has spoken abusively to women parishioners."
“A team of religious heads will visit St Anthony's church on June 14 to take a decision on Chinnappa's transfer,” said a parishioner.