The Public Relations-Vigilance Committee of the Archeparchy of Changanacherry has dismissed allegations made by Sunil Mathew and Elsy P.V. against Archbishop-elect Mar Thomas Tharayil as baseless and malicious. The committee claims that videos circulated on social media are part of a character assassination attempt ahead of Mar Tharayil’s enthronement. The allegations involve a financial dispute connected to the Lourdes Matha Charitable Care Trust, which clarified that Mar Tharayil has no ties to the institutions in question. The Archdiocese views the accusations as defamatory and demands a retraction and apology from Sunil Mathew, warning of legal action if unheeded.

Statement

Allegations against Mar Thomas Tharayil baseless: Public Relations- Vigilance Committee, Archeparchy of Changanacherry.

The accusations made by Sunil Mathew and Elsy P.V. through social media about Mar Thomas Tharayil, The Archbishop of elect of Chanagancherry Archdiocese are totally baseless and contrary to facts. Even as the Enthronement ceremony is drawing near, serial videos deliberately intended at character assassination of Mar Thomas Tharayil is sinister and loaded with malicious intent.

Mar Thomas Tharayil’s visit with the Believers’ Church recently was intended as a gesture of friendship between communities, however, Sunil Mathew has deliberately twisted and misinterpreted the event in order to disinform and mislead the public and the faithful in the most irresponsible manner along with some of the so-called dissenters in the Church.

It is in addition to this that Sunil Mathew brought before the media a woman named Elsy P V who is used to raise groundless financial allegations against Mar Thomas Tharayil.

In this context the Lourdes Matha Charitable Care trust which is involved in this allegation, wishes to clarify the truth pertaining to the same. Lourdes Matha Care and Mother Teresa Home are two institutions which had received donations from Dr Santha Madhavan. Related to this is the admission and protection of Elsy P V, by the institutions. Elsy P V was a dependent of Dr Santha Madhavan. It was the doctor’s recommendation that facilitated Elsy PV’s admission to the institution.

Archbishop-elect Mar Thomas Tharayil has not received any donations from Dr Santha Madhavan or Elsy P V. This Trust has been functional since 2008, when it was registered. Mar.Thomas Tharayil was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Changanacherry only in the year 2017. Mar Tharayil has never been a Trustee, a functionary or Board Member of these Institutions. In light of these facts, the attempt to defame Mar Thomas Tharayil is a violation of the laws of the country, and, an act of criminality.

Raising wild allegations such as this, without verifying the truth, against those in leadership of Religious and Communal organizations is definitely deplorable and diabolic. The vile and sinister kind of media propaganda conducted by Sunil Mathew is viewed seriously by the Archdiocese and hence expresses its protest and rage at this gross and outrageous act.

Sunil Mathew is directed to withdraw the statement and apologize for provocation, failing which the Archdiocese will take necessary legal action forthwith.

For the Public Relations -Vigilance Committee,

Fr.James Kokavayalil, Director
Adv. Joji Chirayil, PRO

1 Clarification by Lourdes Mother Care regarding the fake news webcast by 121 Channel on 19,20 October 2024.

The Lourdes Mata Care Charitable Trust registered in 2008 (Reg. No. IV/128/2008) operating under the supervision of Changanacherry Archdiocese at P T Chacko Nagar Near Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram currently runs two main charitable institutions: 1. Lourdes Mata Cancer Care Home in P T Chacko Nagar since 2016, and, 2. Mother Teresa Old Age Home, Nedumangad, since 2019.

More than 120 people belonging to various communities, from infants to the elderly, who are receiving treatment at RCC and other hospitals in Thiruvananthapuram, reside at Lourdes Mata Care during the course of their treatment.. The poor and the needy are given free food, accommodation and transportation facilities . In both homes, patients, attendants and staff members eat the same meals. Allegations in this regard are contrary to facts. Many patients come for treatment even selling their homes and property. This organization has always taken care to facilitate donations directly to the needy beneficiaries from generous donors. We are confident that the hundreds of beneficiaries who have received our support will openly testify to the generosity and care as indicated above.

Apart from the provision of medical assistance, the daily operations of the cancer care home alone costs at least 6 lakhs rupees per month.

The second institution functioning under the trust is the Mother Teresa Old Age Home located at Kollankav near Nedumangad. The inmates of this institution are 24 homeless destitute, those abandoned by their families or those who cannot be cared for in their homes; Among these are bedridden patients too. The daily expenditure including medical care for the women come to about 2 lakhs a month on an average.
The 19.25 minute long fake video to defame these two institutions as well as Mar Thomas Tharayil is provocative and unfortunate.

Clarifications regarding the relevant parts of the video:
1. Dr. Shantha Madhavan, a great philanthropist, has contributed generously towards the construction of the Cancer Care Home which was started in 2014 at P. T. Chacko Nagar and Mother Teresa Old Age Home which was started in 2018. Lourdes Mata Care has maintained records of all the donations made by Dr. Shantha Madhavan through the bank at various times from 2014 to 2018. The doctor has not laid down any conditions either in writing or otherwise attached to this donation.

2. After the death of Dr. Shantha Madhavan, in 2018, Elsy P V, a spinster, who had been the servant in the household started coming forward with unfair demands. From 2015 to 2019, Lourdes Mata Care has received either in cash or as cheque Rs. 10,97,000/- (Ten lakhs ninety seven thousand). There are clear records of receipt of donations received both in cheque and cash. These contributions were made unconditionally by the complainant. During the said period, the complainant defamed Fr Rony Mailekal. The allegations against him are totally baseless.

3. During the Covid Pandemic Fr Rony was transferred from there. Afterwards the complainant Elsy has been continuously engaging in harassing and pestering and defaming the Directors, the Bishops, Fr Rony and other priests, the religious, members of the board and volunteers serving the institution including the poor patients and their bystanders. From December 2020 Elsy P V started directly visiting the institution, and also over the phone and whatever other sources were at her disposal, to engage in mental torture of her victims.

4. Lourdes Mata Care out of great respect for Dr. Shantha Madhavan has allotted the complainant, the best bath attached room in the institution which is hers to use till her death.

5. A health insurance policy of Rs.5 lakhs on the life of Elsy P V has been taken in 2022 and its premium is paid by Lourdes Mata care without fail.

6. On 2nd September 2024 Elsy P V was admitted to the Jubilee Hospital in Palayam, following a fall and she underwent knee surgery. During this time, the priests and sisters of both the houses including the chairman and director of the trust visited Elsy in the hospital and made enquiries about her condition. She was discharged from the hospital on 9th September 2024, and the medical expenses have been received through the above insurance. The Sisters expressed their willingness to take her to the Mother Teresa Home and went to Jubilee Hospital with this intention, but the complainant preferred to stay in the flat bought for her by Dr. Shanta Madhavan until the stitches were taken. She agreed to go to the Old age home after taking the stitches; however she did not go. The room and related facilities in the Old Age Home are still under her custody and the key of the room is still in the hands of the complainant. Elsy is at full liberty to use this room and related facilities till death.

7. The death anniversary of Dr. Shanta Madhavan and her husband Dr. A. Madhavan were properly observed and Elsy PV's birthday celebrated on September 23rd. Elsy P V visited Lourdes Mata Care on September 23rd and October 11th and participated in the feasts given to the inmates there. Lourdes Mata Care took Mrs. Elsy PV from the flat where she had been staying for physiotherapy and brought her back after treatment. They also brought lunch to her flat at Kariavattam regularly during the two weeks of physiotherapy in the months of September-October. Lourdes Mata Care has not yet denied any legitimate demand of the complainant.

8. The first death in the old age home, which was opened in 2019, occurred on March 24, 2022, and the last death occurred on October 10, 2024. All deaths in the facility, including inpatients, were natural deaths due to age-related diseases. The local police, hospital authorities and municipal councilors are aware of the matter - and adequate records of the same are maintained at the Old Age Home. Lourdes Mata Care and the Old age Home are charitable homes run by the providence of the Almighty, with the blessing and support of our Bishops and with the generous help of the ordinary faithful.

9. Mar Thomas Tharayil is not a board member of this trust and has never directly or indirectly interfered in the day-to-day affairs or financial transactions of the trust. Hence it is quite clear that Mar Tharayil has nothing to do with the allegation raised by the complainant.

10. It is gross and absurd nonsense to accuse the Nuns of poisoning her food and breaking into her room for burglary.

The Lourdes Mata Care Trust rejects these substandard and unfair allegations as beneath contempt.

The general public needs to recognize the insidious strategies to defame the Archbishop-elect of Changanassery Archdiocese, who is a revered figure across communities in our society. Additionally, the public should be aware of the nefarious designs behind the calculated move to malign charitable institutions that reflect the merciful face of the Archdiocese in our capital city.
We are fully aware of the evil designs of Elsy P V and her supporters and request the public to approach this with caution and discretion.
However, the promised assistance to Elsy P V will be continued as per the commitment undertaken.

Sincerely,

On behalf of the trust

Fr. Joseph Kaithaparampil (Chairman)

20-10-2024

Fr. Moban Chooravady (Director)