Kochi: Even as Cardinal Mar George Alencherry postponed the presbyteral council meet on Thursday following dramatic events, the priests’ group wants the Syro-Malabar church synod’s intervention to call a presbyteral council immediately.
Presbyteral council secretary Fr Kuriakose Mundadan has sent a letter to 62 bishops who attend the synod and sought immediate intervention on the land scam issue. The general synod begins at Kakkanad Mount St Thomas on Monday and it will end on January 13.
“We want the synod must discuss the issue and it must list in the main agenda of the synod,” said Presbyteral council secretary Kuriakose Mundadan.
However, a Syro-Malabar church permanent synod, held last Monday in Ernakulam, requested the priests belonging to the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese to avoid any controversy. But the priests spurned the request.
The church-appointed six-member inquiry commission, led by Fr Benny John Maramparampil to probe the controversial land dealings of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, submitted its final report on Friday to Cardinal Mar George Alencherry and auxiliary bishops. Earlier, the commission had decided to submit the report to thePresbyterian council on Thursday. But the cardinal postponed the meet.
“There is no need for the Presbyterian council approval to send the petition and inquiry report to the Pope. It has already been decided to send the complaint and inquiry commission report to the Pope,” said a senior priest of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese and a member of the Presbyteral council.
Sources said the inquiry commission report has pointed out serious lapses by the cardinal in the controversial land deal. The Vatican embassy at Delhi has already informed the issue to the Vatican and they have started an inquiry into the issue.
“The 62 bishops who attend the synod should decide on what action should be taken in the controversial land deal and the cardinal can’t oppose the majority decision,” said a source belongings to the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese.
(source: The Times of India)