The Art of Apology and the Defence of Trust in the Syro Malabar Church

• Rev. Dr. Fr. Nibin Kurisingal

Trust is rooted in the fabric of every human relationship. Trust has been widely acknowledged as a social glue that binds people together, facilitating cooperation and collaboration. However, recent studies and surveys have revealed concerning information regarding a significant decline in trust, supported by substantial data and findings. The 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer survey findings reveal a discouraging reality regarding the level of social trust towards various institutions such as Media, Journalism, Religion, Politics, Business, and Health.

Alarming Trust Declension

My participation in the 12th professional seminar for Church Communication Offices held by the Pontifical University of Santa Croce (2021) served as an inspiring motivation for me to explore the nuances of Institutional Trust. A substantial majority among the resource people emphasized the decline of trust, particularly within Church institutions. According to them, the proliferation of scandals and controversies in the Church has caused the public to scrutinize individual and institutional activities more rigorously. In recent years, the Syro Malabar Church has been plagued by many scandals and controversies. As a result, a large number of people, different institutions and organizations have gone through undesirable and damaging experiences on the faith life and interpersonal relationships.

Consequences of the Controversies

Concentrating on three specific controversies, I conducted a Trust Survey-trust status analysis- among the Catechism Teachers of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly in the Syro Malabar Church, Kerala, India. The survey result provided me with valuable insights and substantial findings. I would like to limit myself to focus on five strong feedbacks among them.

1. The compounding effect of sequential controversies have generated a feeling of deep mistrust, which would be worse than individual adverse crises. Our survey findings strongly support our hypothesis that these consecutive controversies have caused a decline in trust. This decline in trust has affected the relationship between Church institutions and their members and has had a broader impact on the Church’s reputation within the larger society marked by a multi-religious environment.
2. According to our survey, a significant number (73.4%) of respondents felt that Church authorities could not uphold truth and justice. The majority (85.0%) also expressed a lack of confidence in the hierarchy’s ability to nurture trust. A majority (75%) also believed that the Church hierarchy exhibited authoritative and autocratic behaviour, hindering collaboration and participation. These findings suggest a perception of centralized and restrictive authority.
3. The survey findings demonstrate the majority (89.7%) agreed or strongly agreed that there is inadequate unity and harmony among bishops and priests, indicating discord within Church leadership. This highlights the perceived need for effective communication which is essential for nurturing and maintaining trust in Church institutions.
4. According to the survey the digital revolution significantly fuels controversies. A majority (74.6%) believe it complicates and spreads these controversies. The widespread use of social media allows for the rapid circulation of controversial narratives and rumours. Furthermore, a considerable portion (65.9%) opines that the Syro Malabar Church authority/hierarchy could not effectively communicate with the faithful during crisis phases.
5. The survey results revealed that a majority of respondents (75.5%) agreed or strongly agreed that increased involvement of laity in church administration would enhance transparency and effective internal communication within the Church’s institutional administration would foster trust. Moreover, an overwhelming majority (87.6%) agreed or strongly agreed that there are still competent bishops, priests, and lay leaders who can manage and resolve the trust crisis.

These outcomes are significant in terms of academic contribution and have useful implications for future practical applications. Through meticulous analysis and careful evaluation, we have drawn several vital conclusions that can inspire the Church leadership and administration in the defence of trust.

Dynamics of Trust Defence in the Church Institutions

1. The identity of the Church institutions must be affirmed by its steadfast and unwavering commitment to Christian values and moral principles such as truthfulness, transparency, justice, accountability, and benevolence.

The affirmation of Church institutions’ identity consists in the unwavering and steadfast commitment to the ethical principles, values, and teachings of Jesus, rooted in Scripture and Tradition. Out of the multitude of values and ethics that people expect from the Church, we must seriously focus on five: truthfulness, transparency, justice, accountability, and benevolence.

Church’s commitment to truth is essential to both its identity and mission. Criticism was loud among our survey respondents regarding the institutional leaders’ attempts to defend the accused and hide the facts. Even in challenging moments, the commitment to truthfulness must be addressed.

Though our survey findings strongly say that consecutive controversies in the Syro Malabar Church have caused a decline in trust, the participants nonetheless exhibited Considerable Optimism regarding the potential restoration of trust through effective communication. Effective communication encompasses several key aspects, including promoting constructive dialogue, harnessing the power of active listening, ensuring responsible information sharing, enhancing collaborative communication, and empowering assertive and open communication.

The moral authority of Church institutions is closely intertwined with the objective of transparency in society. Transparency reassures the public that the institution is not hiding information or manipulating the situation. Demonstrating a commitment to transparency helps stakeholders understand the steps to address a crisis and promotes participation and collaboration.

Our survey results indicate a concerning lack of commitment to justice in Syro Malabar Church institutions. Church institutions must actively cooperate with necessary investigative procedures related to crises and take necessary disciplinary action against those responsible for the situation. Only by fulfilling their obligation to make just decisions can Church institutions fulfil their mission, regain their members’ trust and confidence, and uphold their mission effectively.

To ensure accountability within the Syro Malabar Church, bishops, priests, and other people responsible have specific duties that must be assessed and reported on. Church institutions must take responsibility for their actions, demonstrating a commitment to addressing past mistakes and implementing changes to prevent future occurrences.

Using the authority and opportunity to promote benevolence by ensuring that all programs and services prioritize the welfare of the poor and marginalized. When institutions consistently demonstrate benevolence, people are more likely to view them as reliable and trustworthy. Attachment to profit and autocratic governance goes against the idea of prioritizing the needs of the less fortunate.

2. Effective communication in Church institutions in a digitalized world is necessary because of two fundamental factors. Firstly, Church institutions can leverage various channels and platforms to disseminate information. Secondly, they need to recognize the risks associated with this new environment, such as increased polarization and the spread of rumours and misinformation.

The survey participants exhibited considerable optimism regarding the potential restoration of trust through effective communication. Effective communication encompasses several key aspects, including promoting constructive dialogue, harnessing the power of active listening, ensuring responsible information sharing, enhancing collaborative communication, and empowering assertive and open communication.

Constructive dialogue is crucial for promoting clear and transparent communication among all involved parties. Through constructive dialogue, essential information, facts, and concerns can be shared, leading to a comprehensive understanding of the crisis. This shared understanding facilitates the development of suitable decisions and effective strategies to address the crisis.

In recent years, the Syro Malabar Church has been plagued by many scandals and controversies. As a result, a large number of people, different institutions and organizations have gone through undesirable and damaging experiences on the faith life and interpersonal relationships.

Active listening will foster collaboration and ensure the overall success of any organization. By engaging in active listening, Church leaders understand the message’s content and empathize with the underlying emotions, biases, criticism, and needs. In active and inclusive listening, all are treated with equal dignity, all voices are heard, all opinions are valued, and all members actively participate in the discussions and decision-making.

Church institutions must exchange timely and accurate information to ensure all stakeholders are well-informed, enabling them to fulfil their roles and responsibilities. Clear and concise information can be transmitted through press releases, official statements, website updates, social media platforms, and direct communication with stakeholders. A cooperative and inclusive environment is fostered through collaboration in communication, allowing individuals to work together towards achieving institutional goals.

Courageous communication requires individuals to possess strength, resilience, and a willingness to face potential consequences. The Church’s administrative bodies must demonstrate bravery in upholding commitments to truth and Christian values, even when tempted by personal gain. It involves communicating honestly and transparently, even in the face of judgment, criticism, and rejection.

3. Church institutions must establish a crisis and vulnerability management team that can proactively identify and address potential threats. The composition of this team should include individuals with specific roles and expertise tailored to the nature of the institution and competent enough to implement specific duties and responsibilities.

Environmental Scanning: It involves in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of institutional networks regarding values, resources, and competencies. Leaders of Church institutions must possess this awareness to identify early warning signs of crises and intervene in troubled situations to prevent potential harm caused by conflicts.

Issues Identification and Analysis: Based on our survey findings, it is evident that the Syro Malabar Church administration’s silence during controversies indicated a reluctance to address conflicts and communicate with the public. Institutional administration must identify and collect information about the crisis and transmit it to stakeholders, employees, and the public. This understanding allows for the implementation of appropriate corrective measures and the prevention of future crises.

The high optimism of respondents demonstrates the possibility and opportunity for introducing effective leadership modelled after Christ’s servant leadership, credible with ethical integrity, fuelled with profound vision, oriented towards a Christian mission, and performed harmoniously and collaboratively. Incorporating the concept of institutional trust into the curriculum of all educational and formation houses, both ecclesiastical and secular will be beneficial for the future church institutional administration.

Immediate Interference-Specific Response Strategies: Our survey respondents expressed dissatisfaction with the Church’s administrative leaders for their inadequate and delayed involvement in crisis management. Determining the appropriate response level based on the issue’s seriousness is pivotal. When a potential crisis or rumour is limited to a small audience, addressing it directly within that group is better than escalating it in the public sphere.

Acceptance of Mistakes and Art of Apology: The art of apologizing goes beyond simply uttering the words ‘we are sorry’. It requires true dedication to transparency, accountability, and cooperation. An institution’s readiness to welcome and cooperate with open investigations and provide all necessary documents and information to the authorities is essential. By doing so, it demonstrates unwavering commitment to the truth and its willingness to address any wrongdoing.

Implementation of Just Decisions: The implementation of right and just decisions serves a dual purpose: restoring justice and truth and rebuilding trust. Making correct decisions characterized by justice and truth is essential for upholding values and morals. By making just decisions, institutions demonstrate their commitment to upholding ethical values and reaffirm their dedication to maintaining trust.

4. Church institutions require inspiring leaders with authentic characteristics such as integrity and ethical behaviour, a solid commitment to their mission and vision, a service-oriented attitude, and a strong inclination towards collaboration. Based on the survey findings, focused attention is required in four critical areas of the Church’s institutional leadership and administrative patterns.

Integrity and Ethical Behaviour: Christian leaders who compromise their ethical commitments risk losing the moral credibility necessary to lead a community effectively. The Church’s institutional leadership should be rooted in the administrative framework exemplified by Jesus Christ. Guidance and direction from the teachings of the magisterium should be sought to accomplish this.

Unwavering vision for mission: Our survey findings demonstrated that the Syro Malabar Church administration has placed excessive emphasis on secular interests such as wealth, power, politics, and status. The ultimate goal of Church institutions should not be material prosperity or reputation but rather the dissemination of Gospel values to foster societies that align with Jesus’ teachings.

Our survey findings demonstrated that the Syro Malabar Church administration has placed excessive emphasis on secular interests such as wealth, power, politics, and status. The ultimate goal of Church institutions should not be material prosperity or reputation but rather the dissemination of Gospel values to foster societies that align with Jesus’ teachings.

Servant Leadership: Our survey findings on the administrative pattern of the Syro Malabar Church institutions highlight two significant observations. First, there is evidence of Church leaders misusing delegated power and failing their obligations. Second, there is a perceived presence of centralized and potentially restrictive authority. It is recommended that we move away from an autocratic and authoritative style and towards a servant leadership approach focused on stewardship.

Authenticity: Our survey reveals that there is insufficient unity and harmony among bishops and priests. The remedy for this issue is restoring harmony among the clergy and institutional leaders. Harmonious conversations and discussions can achieve a mutual understanding of disputed subjects. The unity and harmony among the clergy will serve as a source of inspiration and guidance for the faithful. The fraternal relationship among the hierarchy will serve as an inspiring factor for the next generation of leaders.

Optimism is an Offer from the People of God

The high percentage of responses indicating a decline in trust within the Syro Malabar Church demands serious and extensive research to understand the significance of trust in Church institutions. By genuinely acknowledging and valuing the concerns and suggestions of the faithful, the Syro Malabar Church authorities can initiate the reconciliation process and regain the trust.

Our survey findings on the administrative pattern of the Syro Malabar Church institutions highlight two significant observations. First, there is evidence of Church leaders misusing delegated power and failing their obligations. Second, there is a perceived presence of centralized and potentially restrictive authority. It is recommended that we move away from an autocratic and authoritative style and towards a servant leadership approach focused on stewardship.

The high optimism of respondents demonstrates the possibility and opportunity for introducing effective leadership modelled after Christ’s servant leadership, credible with ethical integrity, fuelled with profound vision, oriented towards a Christian mission, and performed harmoniously and collaboratively. Incorporating the concept of institutional trust into the curriculum of all educational and formation houses, both ecclesiastical and secular will be beneficial for the future church institutional administration.

As future leaders across various societal sectors, young students must acknowledge the fundamental importance of trust. Recognizing the integral role of trust can guide young students in building and sustaining strong, ethical relationships in their communities and beyond. In the light of this survey and considering the worth of public opinion, I suggest that the Syro Malabar Church administration needs to conduct annual surveys within each diocese to evaluate trust levels, focusing on the religious lives of women (to comprehend their evolving lives, trust concerns and crises, and vocational challenges) and Catholic Youth Movements (to know their trust issues, crises, and expectations) and in all other institutions in accordance with their requirements and demands.