By : Matters India Reporter
Kochi: Clashes broke out on Jan 28 between factions favouring and opposing Cardinal George Alencherry in the controversial land deal by the Syro-Malabar diocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly. Police had to be called to bring the situation under control.
The clashes occurred after members of the All India Catholic Almaya Forum tried to stop a meeting held by Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency at the Regional Pastoral Centre (Subodhana) in Angamaly .
Members of All India Catholic Almaya Forum , who support Cardinal Alencherry also burned copies of ‘Satyadeepam’ newspaper, published by Ernakulam Archdiocesan Publication Trust. The newspaper in its editorial earlier this month had warned the Archdiocese against concealing details of the land sale from the public gaze. The members of the forum also demanded that the priests who tarnish the image of the Cardinal and the Church should be expelled.
The Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency is a body formed by a section of priests with the backing of laity to bring in transparency to the activities of Ernakulam-Angamali Archdiocese . They had demanded that the inquiry commission report into the land deal be published for the laity.
Earlier in the meeting, the same body had passed a bill demanding greater role for the laity in managing the diocese’s financial assets and the day-to-day activities of the Church. They also said that a mass petition with these demands will be collated and submitted to the higher authorities in the Church.