By Matters India Reporter
Kochi: The Kerala-based Syro-Malabar Church has urged the federal government to grant “the just demands” of farmers who have been protesting on the borders of the national capital for weeks.
A statement from the Church’s media commission on January 17 noted that the farmers are protesting enduring all types of difficulties and vagaries of nature.
The statement was issued at the end of the Syro-Malabar Synod’s online meeting attended by 59 active and retired bishops.
This is first official statement from a mainline Church on the farmers’ agitation.
Hundreds of thousands of farmers from all around India have been camping outside Delhi since November 26. They want the federal government to repeal the three recently enacted farm laws. The Supreme Court has stayed the implementation of the laws.
The synod also expressed “deep pain” over the increasing violent attacks on Christians all over the world.
“During the Christmas season, the news of killing of more than 750 Christians in Ethiopia was heart breaking,” says the statement signed by the Church’s public relations officer Father Abraham Kavilpurayidathil and media commission secretary Father Alex Onampally.
They said the “martyrdom of Christians” in Africa and Europe “speaks of the strength of the faith of those Christians.”
The statement said the synod has urged the faithful to pray for those suffering prosecution to stand up against terrorist attacks.
The synod has also expressed its satisfaction at the report on the police investigation into the accusations against Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the Church.
The cardinal was embroiled in a controversy in connection with the sale of properties under the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese.
The Synod has asked Archbishop Mar Antony Kariyil, who heads the archdiocese, to take steps to conclude the sale of the properties. The synod has requested the concerned parties to show a spirit of cooperation in this matter, the statement adds.
The synod has also discussed the case of fake documents, an article that called into question the canonization of John Paul II and the problems caused by fundamentalist groups that make statements in the social media on behalf of the Church.
The synod has asked the bishops to take disciplinary actions against those who take positions against the official stand of the Church.
The revised text of the Syro-Malabar Mass will be published soon with the permission of the Vatican. The synod has approved a second lectionary on an experimental basis along with the present one.
Besides formalizing a prioritized list of the feast days, the synod also cleared the text of prayers and the rubrics to be followed during funerals, already approved by the Church.