Kochi: As more than 150 priests openly protested against the Vatican’s decision to restore powers of Cardinal Mar George Alenchery, the Syro Malabar media commission urged the laity to be vigilant against misguiding statements. In a media release issued on Monday, the Church refuted allegations raised by rebel priests.
Pope Francis has taken the decision based on the inquiry report submitted by the apostolic administrator and reports received from various other sources. It is serious indiscipline from those who question and challenge the papal decision and misguide the laity, said Mar Joseph Pamplani, chairman of Syro Malabar media commission. “The Cardinal was never removed from the post of archbishop and Mar Jacob Manath-odath was appointed as apostolic administrator with the permission of the Cardinal and the permanent synod,” he said.
According to the Media Commission, the Cardi-nal moved to St. Thomas Mount Kakkanad, the church headquarter, only to facilitate the smooth administrative functioning by Mar Manathodath. And when the one year term of Manathodath ended, the administrative powers have been naturally given back to the Cardinal.
“The Vatican representative has already communicated the papal decision to the apostolic administrator and the auxiliary bishops. And the Cardinal has to discuss the measures to be taken regarding the Pope’s decision for which he reached the Archbis-hop house late evening on June 26. The allegations that Cardinal took charge in police protection in night are baseless.”
The Vatican has clearly stated that both Bishop Sebastian Adayanthrath and Bishop Jose Puthe-nveettil have been suspended from their offices as auxiliary Bishops of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese. Statements otherwise are untrue.
The letter from Congre-gation for Oriental Churches in Rome has made it clear that Papal decisions are based on the inquiry report of Mar Manathodath, added the Media Commission.
