By : Matters India Reporter

Palakkad, Kerala: If Christianity is being criticised and misunderstood today, it is due to shortcomings from the clergy community, said Cardinal George Alencherry. He was speaking at  Priests’ Grand Conference  on August 2 at the Sehion Retreat centre in Attapady near Palakkad.

Siting the example of Jesus Christ, the cardinal urged the congregation to never preach for publicity. He reminded priests to lead the community in a  transparent and innocent manner and  to not  exercise undue authority .

The Cardinal expressed grief at the fact that Christianity seems to be in a state of decline in some countries, and some of the services of the Church have become merely symbolic.

Holy Mass at Priests’ Grand Conference on August 2

Bishop Emeritus of Tellicherry ,George Valiamattam; Bishop George Madathikandathil of Kothamangalam,; Apostolic Visitor for the Syro-Malabar in Europe, Stephen Chirappanath led the Holy Mass at the Priests’ Grand Conference on Aug 2.

Bishop of Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Canada, Jose Kalluvelil and Bishop Jacob Manathodath of Palaghat were also present.

More than 15 bishops and around 1360 priests, including world renowned evangelists are attending the six-day residential conference at the Sehion Retreat center in Attapady near

The program is led by Fr.Xavier Khan Vattayil , founder-director of Sehion Ministries and world renowned charismatic preacher.