Syro-Malabar Church land deal row: Synod gives auxiliary bishops more powers

Kochi: The auxiliary bishops in Ernakulam – Angamaly archdiocese will be given more powers based on the probe report submitted by the five-member committee appointed by the general synod meeting of the Syro-Malabar Church on the land deal row.

Since Archbishop Cardinal Mar George Alencherry has more responsibilities and should focus on the general matters of the Church, the auxiliary bishops should be given more powers in the archdiocese, it has been recommended by the inquiry committee. The Cardinal has been asked to hand over more responsibilities to the auxiliary bishops.

Vicar-general Mar Sebastian Adayanthrath has been urged to take the lead in finding a way out of the difficult situation.

The inquiry committee has also recommended that canon committees like college of consulters, finance council and archdiocese curia should convene an immediate meeting to evaluate the total loss suffered by the Church in the land deal and other issues related to the controversy. Subsequently, an expert committee has to be entrusted with proposing corrective measures and compensating for the loss.

All major decisions regarding the archdiocese should be taken only in consultation with the cardinal and if needed the assistance of synod committee can be sought.

The vicar-general has been asked to take necessary measures to ensure proper and transparent functioning of various committees in the archdiocese and he should convene regular meetings of Presbyteral Council, Pastoral Council and Presbyterium to strengthen the bond between laity and clergymen.

Earlier, presbyters’ council secretary Father Kuriakose Mundadan had submitted a letter to the bishops of general synod seeking their effective intervention to resolve the crisis in the archdiocese. The representatives of organisations of laity and priests have also submitted requests to the synod in this regard.