By Matters India Reporter
Kochi, August 30, 2019: Groups representing laity and priests in the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly have reacted with mixed emotions to the decisions of the Syro-Malabar synod.
Archdiocesan Protection Committee, Laity Movement and Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency welcomed the synod’s decision to strip Cardinal Alencherry of the administrative responsibilities of Ernakulam-Angamaly and appoint a new archiepiscopal vicar with full power to govern the archdiocese.
The synod that met in Kochi for the past 11 days announced on August 30 the election of Bishop Antony Kariyil of Mandya as the new archiepiscopal vicar for Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese. It also revoked the suspension of the archdiocese’s two auxiliary bishops and appointed them to dioceses outside Kerala.
“We express our gratitude to the synod fathers for their magnanimity to find a solution to the problems that have troubled the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly for two years,” says a joint statement from the Archdiocesan Protection Committee and the Laity Movement.
The Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency, on its part, says the synod decisions have helped lift the veil of corruption that had shrouded the archdiocese’s face for two years. “AMT congratulates the synod for giving the archdiocese an administrative metropolitan with full freedom,” the movement says in a statement.
AMT also welcomed the synod clarification that what was done to the two auxiliaries was only an administrative adjustment and not suspension as was projected.
However, the AMT expressed its displeasure over the synod’s refusal to disclose the reports of two commissions that probed the scam over the sale of the archdiocesan land. The faithful of the archdiocese have the right to know the contents of those reports, asserts the AMT statement signed by president Mathew Karondukadavil and general secretary Riju Kanjookkaren.
“The refusal of the synod to discuss those reports is an affront to the faithful by the bishops,” the AMT statement says
The joint statement from the Archdiocesan Protection Council and the Laity Movement says the experience of the past two years has awakened the priests and laity of the archdiocese who will now be alert and work together in all matters concerning the archdiocese, especially its financial affairs.
The groups said they will insist conducting the archdiocesan matters with definite action and not by the whims and fancies of the authorities. They expressed happiness over bringing back the two auxiliary bishops to the archbishop’s residence and welcomed their new appointments.
The priests and laity regretted the synod’s failure to issue creative directions to rectify the financial losses the archdiocese suffered because of the land scam. “We hope Archbishop Antony Kariyil will take steps to find the solution,” the joint statement says.
The joint statement says the crisis in the archdiocese has helped the laity to imbibe the revolutionary spirit of the Second Vatican Council after 50 years. “The priests and lay people of the archdiocese will continue to main the same spirit to ensure transparency and truth in the administration of the archdiocese,” the statement says.
The groups, however, deplored what they said was the syndo’s baseless and irresponsible statement about Father Augustine Vattoly, who has dedicated his life for the rights of the marginalized and social justice.
“We will take the initiative to carry on under the leadership of the new archbishop such pastoral works shown by such priests and religious,” the statement pledges.