“Rites at residence”

I was shocked to read in Ervad Framroze S. Mirza’s letter ("Rites at residence,” Readers’ Forum, Parsiana, February 21, 2007) that he was excommunicated for conducting the last rites of a person opting for an alternative method of disposal of the dead.

As an ordinary Zoroastrian I seek explanations from the so-called high priests about who excommunicated Mirza and on what authority? What procedure is being followed for excommunication? What are the grounds on which a priest can be excommunicated? Is there any provision in our religion, or it is one of the fatwas that the high priests are using? How many priests have been excommunicated so far and for what sins? Has Mirza been excommunicated for performing the last rites of those who have chosen alternate modes of disposal of the dead because our religious mullahs consider this anti-religion? Have any other priests been excommunicated?

I would also like to know why the high priests who performed and participated in the navjote ceremony of an octogenarian industrialist born a Christian have not been excommunicated since their act is also anti-religious? Who can excommunicate high priests if they commit such an offence? There are well known priests here and abroad who have performed the navjotes of non-Parsis. Will they all be excommunicated?

If a priest like Mirza is penalized why have the priests (boiwallas) caught in a sandalwood scam been left untouched? What about a priest who was allegedly caught red-handed trying to open a safe in an agiary?

I salute Mirza for helping people in need of last rites and condemn the action of the so-called high priests.

HOMI DALAL

Perth, Australia

There is no excommunication in Zoroastrianism. The term is sometimes loosely used to indicate a person is in disfavour with the religious establishment — editors