The deceased priests are Rev Bijumon, 52, and Rev Shine B Raj, 43. Bijumon, who was the vicar of CSI church, Kazhukode, near Vattappara, died last Thursday. Shine B Raj, who was the vicar of CSI church, Punnakkamugal, near Thirumala, breathed his last on Tuesday. His funeral was held later in the day.Many of the infected priests are under treatment at Dr Somervell CSI Medical College Hospital at Karakonam and some are in home treatment.

Hospital authorities refused to comment when contacted but a senior doctor, on condition of anonymity, said none of the infected priests are in a critical condition. "There were a few serious cases and they are recovered now," he said.Jacob Mathew, secretary of Church of South India Trust Association and member of the Joint Christian Council, alleged that the retreat was organised ignoring the directions of the government and council.

"The annual retreats of Central Kerala diocese and Kochi diocese were also scheduled last month and they were postponed due to a surge in Covid cases. But CSI South Kerala held the retreat secretly at Munnar without informing the government. As per the government instructions, only 50 people are allowed in a conference. But here all safety guidelines went for a toss," he alleged.

Retreat held adhering to protocol: Church official

Jacob also shared the issue in a Facebook post. Though a group of social workers sent a complaint to Chief Secretary V P Joy a week ago, no action has been taken so far.Rev Dharmaraj refused to comment as he was in home quarantine. T T Praveen, secretary of South Kerala diocese of CSI, said the infection was not spread from the retreat. He said some vested interests are indulging in a negative campaign against the church.

"The retreat was organised adhering to protocol and we had got permission from the government. It is true that some of the priests have tested positive. But it has been proven that the infection was not spread from that conference. Two priests died due to the various diseases they had been suffering from. It is evident that it is the propaganda by anti-CSI lobbies to defame the Church, which is going to hold polls in the coming months," he said.

A priest who attended the retreat and subsequently tested positive said at least 30 priests had been hospitalised. "A few others have recovered and discharged," he told TNIE. Thiruvananthapuram DMO K S Shinu said the health department could not take action as the conference was held last month and that too in Idukki. "We can't do anything. It was held last month. The action had to be recommended and taken at that time if any violation was reported. Moreover, I can't take action as the retreat was not held under my jurisdiction," he said.

"I do not need to explain any further than the above secular newspaper (along with several others) has reported with a lot of respect to the Church. Just read the response from the Church official.....The CSI is sitting on a moral high ground all the time by putting the blame on others that someone is conducting a negative campaign to defame the church. They not only say such things to the public but they tell the court when there are mountains of complaints against the CSITA administration. From morning till night, the CSI administration lies, defrauds, conceals, blames.... There is No one to raise a finger at them......"

Joseph Gnanaseelan Muthuraj is a frequent contributor to VOL