Kochi: The priests belonging to the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese opposing Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, launched an open agitation against the cardinal in the Archbishop’s House in Kochi on Thursday.
Fr Joseph Parecattil began an indefinite hunger strike representing the dissident priests while nearly 200 priests from the archdiocese extended their solidarity to him. Apart from Fr. Parecattil, another 20 priests and around 100 members of the laity are in the Archbishop’s House.
On Friday onwards, the representatives from 16 Foranes of the archdiocese will join a 24-hour fasting and prayer with Fr. Parecattil.
Their main demands included removal of Alencherry from the responsibilities of the archdiocese and chairing the synod scheduled to be held in August.
Fr Sebastian Thaliyan, convener, Archdiocese Protection Committee, in a statement called for ending the practice of including priests in fake cases.
The statement also demanded reappointment of auxiliary bishops removed from their positions without any reason, holding the synod under the observation of a representative from Vatican instead of Alenchery facing criminal charges in 14 cases and appointment of apostolic administrator for the archdiocese with complete functional autonomy.
The dissident priests said that they will withdraw the protest only after members of the permanent members of the synod held discussions with them and conveyed their grievances to the Oriental Congregation and Pope Francis.
Sources said the direct action has been prompted by the police questioning some more priests in the dissident camp, including Fr. Thomas Mundadan, the other day in connection with the alleged fake document case. The dissident camp believes that the police acted due to the machinations of the supporters of the cardinal with the intention of dragging more priests into the fake case.
The cardinal, who left the Archbishop’s House in the afternoon for a function in Thrissur, declined to comment on the issue. It is not known whether he would return to the Archbishop’s House in the night.
