Thomas Kuzhinapurath: An Indian Canonical Theologian

Thomas John Kuzhinapuath (born May 24, 1969) is an author and priest of the Syro-
Malankara Catholic Church of India.

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. 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. After the successful
completion of the pastoral training, Kuzhinapurath joined St. Joseph's Pontifical Institute
, Mangalapuzha, Aluva for four years of theological studies. By this time Kuzhinapurath
had published many theological articles in various journals1 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. 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.2
1
Mathavum Chinthayum, Christava Kahalam, Aikyadeepam, Preshita Keralam 1991-1994.
2
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,
 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. He serves as the Promoter of Justice of the
Eparchial Tribunal of Mavelikkara. 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.

Scholar and Expert

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.Various audio-visual Media in Kerala broadcasted talks and programmes on
the theological vision and social activities of Thomas Kuzhinapurath.3

Writing career

Kuzhinapurath has published well-studied articles in both English and Malayalam.4 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.5

Kuzhinapurath has authored Daivajanam6 and Salvific Law,7 each of which has been
published in two editions. Daivajanam is a collection of essays in Malyalam on socio-
theological 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.8 In 2005, the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church was elevated to the

Trivandrum, 2002, p.4.

3
All India Radio, Trivandrum, Talks Branch, Contract dated September 23, 2008; Power
Vision TV, Guest Room, October 9, 2008, IST 19.30
4
Mathavum Chinthayum (1991, 1994); VijnanaKairali (1997); Christian Orient (1998).
5
The University of Kerala Bhashathilakam, ISBN-81-86397-13-2 Thiruvananthapuram,
India, 1998.
6
Fr. Thomas Kuzhinapurath,Daivajanam, Collection of Essays, ISBN 81-87655-13-5,
Carmel Publishing Centre, Trivandrum, India, 1998.
7
Thomas Kuzhinapurath, Salvific Law , MS Publications, Thiruvananthapuram, India,
2008.
8
Thomas Kuzhinapurath,. "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.scribd.com; Thomas
Kuzhinapurath, "Metropolitan Church sui iuris Juridical Status and Power of
Governance", Christian Orient XXI/I, pp. 41-48.
status of a Major Archiepiscopal Church.9 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".10 Daivajanam was reviewed in various
journals,11 and on the fifth anniverssary of its publication, Daniel Poovannathil published
a collection of five studies on Daivajanam in the volume Daivajanapadhanangal.12

Salvific Law is a doctoral work which studies the concept of law from a soteriological 13
context. In this book Kuzhinapurath argues that the law of the church should
fundamentally aim at the salvation of the soul.14 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. ".15

9
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syro-Malankara_Catholic_Church
10
D. Babu Paul, “Upodkhadam”, Daivajanam, Carmel Publishing Centre, Trivandrum,
India, 1998, pp. xi-xix.
11
Dr. Geevarghese Panicker, Aikyadeepam, July 1998, p.34; M. V. Thomas, Deepika, July
26,1998.
12
Daniel Poovannathil, ed. Daivajanapadhanangal. Carmel Publishing Centre,
Trivandrum, 2002.
13
Soteriology is the Science which studies salvation.
14
Philip Chempakassery, "Book Review", Aikya Samiksha, 4/2, 2007.
15
Daniel G. Fulton, Book Review, L'Osservatore Romano, (Malayalam Edition
Supplement) 1/21 (2008) p.vi..