Clergy demand Cardinal Mar George Alencherry to quit

Kochi: The internal feud within the Syro-Malabar Church over the controversial land deal in Ernakulam – Angamaly archdiocese has intensified with the priests’ council taking  the issue to the streets on Friday. More than 200 members of the Presbyteral council convened a protest meeting near Ernakulam St. Mary’s Basilica church.  The  priests took out a protest march to the Bishop’s House and submitted a memorandum to auxiliary bishop Mar Sebastian Adayanthrath. The memorandum asked Cardinal Mar George Alencherry to relinquish the post for the time being.

While interacting with the media, the priests  expressed their dissatisfaction over the “secret land deal which caused  irreparable damage to the image of the Church.”

“It is for the first time in the history of Syro- Malabar Church that a police inquiry has been  ordered against a cardinal. Since the credibility of the cardinal is at stake, he should step aside for the time being and can return  after proving his innocence,” said Fr. Kuriakose Mundadan, secretary of Presbyteral council.

The priests have also demanded that the details of their memorandum should be conveyed to the Holy See at the earliest.

Fr. Mundadan refuted the allegations that the decision to move against the cardinal has no majority in the priests’ council saying that of the 458 members in the council only 10 priests are not in favour of the decision.

“Despite the findings by both the inquiry panels constituted by the cardinal and the general synod that there have been serious lapses in the land deal, no concrete steps have been taken against those responsible. Unfortunately, the synod members, who are supposed to advise the cardinal on important matters have not taken a stand on the controversy. There has been lack of transparency in all matters regarding the land deal,” alleged Fr. Mundadan.

The priests also raised doubts over the delay in registering an FIR against the cardinal.