Auxiliary Bishop Sebastian Edayanthrath, assisted by Auxiliary Bishop Jose Puthenveettil, will take over the daily administration of the Syro-Malabar Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly as Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry will need more time to govern the affairs of the global Syro-Malabar Church.

The auxiliary bishop will be responsible for convening and presiding over the meetings of the Canonical fora. However, the Auxiliary Bishop will take important decisions in consultation with the Major Archbishop. The latter can also demand reports from his auxiliary.

Circular

These decisions follow the recommendations of a Synod of the bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church early January, articulated in a circular from the bishops to be read out during Sunday Mass on February 11.

Coming as it is in the wake of a controversy over a series of land deals in the archdiocese, the shift in administrative power assumes significance.

Major Archbishop Cardinal Alencherry also looked after the daily affairs of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly till now.

However, the circular signed by the Major Archbishop and his auxiliaries highlights the constraints imposed by such wide responsibilities.

The circular said the Major Archbishop was straddled with the responsibilities of the head of a diocese even while administering the Syro-Malabar Church as a whole. Besides, he had to travel to Rome as part of his Church responsibilities.

The circular said many of the Major Archbishop’s pronouncements and actions as head of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese had been interpreted as pronouncements and actions as head of the Syro-Malabar Church.

Issues concerning the archdiocese had been interpreted as being that of the Syro-Malabar Church.

This was largely because there was a lack of discernment about the dual responsibilities of the Cardinal, it said. The circular from the bishops also thanked the community of priests for its role in correcting and guiding the course of the archdiocese. It said the community of priests had always stood for truth and justice. The circular denied that the present land deal controversy had anything to do with the differences over the conduct of the liturgy.

Transfers

Meanwhile, Fr. Joshy Puthuva, who was finance officer of the archdiocese, has been posted as vicar at a parish in Kalamassery while Fr. Sebastian Vadakkumpadan, who is past 75, will now retire.

Fr. Puthuva and Fr. Vadakkumpadan were restrained from their duties after the land deals issue was raised at the meeting of the council of priests of the archdiocese.

(Source: Hindu)