Cardinal George Alencherry calls meet to discuss Syro-Malabar Church land row

KOCHI: A meeting of the College of Consultants of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese will be held on Friday to review the further steps needed to be taken in the controversial land deal of the Syro-Malabar Church. The meeting was convened by Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church. The 12-member body comprising priests is expected to deliberate on the land deal which has stirred up a major controversy in the Church with a section of the priests and laity questioning the credibility of the decision to sell the land.

The meeting has been called as per the decision Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church held few days ago. The meeting is also expected to consider the directive from the Synod to form an expert committee to examine the land deal. The critics of the land deal allege that the deal, which was supposed to clear a loan liability of the Church, has resulted only in further enhancing the liability. They also alleged the deal lacking transparency has marred the image of the Church.