Rayappu Joseph

{{Infobox Christian leader | type = Bishop | honorific-prefix = Rt Rev. | name = Rayappu Joseph | honorific-suffix = | native_name = இராயப்பு யோசப் | native_name_lang = ta | title = Bishop of Mannar | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | church = Roman Catholic Church | archdiocese = Colombo | province = | metropolis = | diocese = Mannar | see = | term_start = 6 July 1992 | term_end = 14 January 2016 | predecessor = Thomas Savundaranayagam | opposed = | successor = | ordination = | consecration = | cardinal = | rank = | other_post =  | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1940|04|16|df=yes}} | birth_place = Delft, Ceylon | death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|04|01|1940|04|16|df=yes}} | death_place = Jaffna, Sri Lanka | buried = St. Sebastian's Cathedral, Mannar | nationality = | religion = | residence = | parents = | spouse = | children = | occupation = | profession = | previous_post = | alma_mater = Pontifical Urbaniana University | motto = | signature = | signature_alt = | coat_of_arms = | coat_of_arms_alt =  | other = }} Bishop '''Rayappu Joseph''' ({{langx|ta|இராயப்பு யோசப்}}; 16 April 1940 – 1 April 2021)<ref>{{cite web|title=Bishop Emeritus of Mannar Rayappu Joseph passes away|url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_21A/Apr01_1617251936CH.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401073935/http://www.colombopage.com/archive_21A/Apr01_1617251936CH.php |url-status=usurped |archive-date=1 April 2021 |publisher= Colombo Page |date=1 April 2021}}</ref> was a Sri Lanka Tamil prelate and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Mannar.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mannar|url=http://www.pontificalmissionlk.org/mannar.htm|publisher=Pontifical Mission Societies – Sri Lanka|access-date=20 June 2012|archive-date=26 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126081739/http://pontificalmissionlk.org/mannar.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Vatican">{{cite web | url=http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016/01/14/resignation_accepted_of__bp_rayappu_of_mannar,_sri_lanka/1200923 | title=Resignation accepted of Bp. Rayappu and new Apostolic Administrator of Mannar appointed | publisher=Vatican Radio | date=14 January 2016 | accessdate=16 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://thediplomat.com/2021/04/remembering-bishop-rayappu-joseph-a-tireless-campaigner-for-justice-in-sri-lanka/ | title=Remembering Bishop Rayappu Joseph: A Tireless Campaigner for Justice in Sri Lanka | publisher=The Diplomat | work=Jeevethan Selvachandran | date=23 April 2021 | accessdate=6 June 2021}}</ref>

== Early life and family ==

Joseph was born on 16 April 1940 on the island of Neduntheevu in northern Ceylon to a practitioner of indigenous medicine.<ref name="CH">{{cite web|title=Bishop Rayappu Joseph|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bjoseph.html|publisher=Catholic Hierarchy}}</ref><ref name="UCAN">{{cite news|title=Bishop Joseph|url=http://directory.ucanews.com/bishops/bishop-joseph/562|work=Union of Catholic Asian News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Former Bishop of Mannar Rayappu Joseph passes away {{!}} Tamil Guardian |url=https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/former-bishop-mannar-rayappu-joseph-passes-away |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=www.tamilguardian.com}}</ref> Living in Cheddikulam and Mannar during his early childhood, he was educated at St. Patrick's College, Jaffna.<ref>{{cite web|title=Past Bishops|url=http://www.patricians.org/index.php?view=past_bishops|publisher=St Patrick's College, Jaffna Old Boys' Association, Colombo Branch|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323170933/http://www.patricians.org/index.php?view=past_bishops|archivedate=23 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rasaiya|first=Christy|title=St. Patrick's 150 years old|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/000716/plus12.html|newspaper=The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|date=16 July 2000}}</ref> Joseph had a Doctor of Canon Law degree from the Pontifical Urbaniana University.<ref name=UCAN/>

==Career== Joseph was ordained a priest in December 1967.<ref name=CH/><ref name=UCAN/> He was a professor at the St Xavier's Seminary, Jaffna.<ref name=UCAN/> In July 1992 he was appointed Bishop of Mannar and was ordained a bishop in October 1992.<ref name=CH/><ref name=UCAN/>

Joseph has been a vocal critic of the Sri Lankan government/Sri Lankan military's conduct during the Sri Lankan Civil War and the country's human rights record.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka's war panel arouses strong emotions|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12154294|work=BBC News|date=11 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka row over Catholic letter on human rights|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17268307|work=BBC News|date=6 March 2012}}</ref> This has led to him being threatened by government supporters.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jeyaraj|first1=D. B. S.|authorlink1=|title=Pope Benedict to express concern over Mannar Bishop Rayappu Joseph's safety to President Rajapaksa at Vatican|url=http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/6763|publisher=dbsjeyaraj.com|date=2 June 2012|access-date=28 December 2014|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214335/http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/6763|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{wikiquote}}

* {{Url|1=mannardiocese.net/?page_id=18|2=Bishop of Mannar, Mannar Diocese}}

{{s-start}} {{s-rel|ca}} {{s-bef|before=Thomas Savundaranayagam}} {{s-ttl|title=Bishop of Mannar|years=6 July 1992 – 14 January 2016}} {{s-aft|after=Kingsley Swampillai<br><small>(as Apostolic Administrator)</small>}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Joseph, Rayappu}} Category:1940 births Category:2021 deaths Category:20th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Sri Lanka Category:Alumni of St. Patrick's College, Jaffna Category:People from Northern Province, Sri Lanka Category:People from British Ceylon Category:Pontifical Urban University alumni Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Mannar Category:Sri Lankan Tamil activists Category:Sri Lankan Roman Catholic bishops