Thiruvananthapuram: ' Almaya Munnettam', a representative body of the laity of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church, has threatened to lay a siege to St. Thomas Mount at Kakkanand, the venue of the permanent Synod meeting, from August 25 if the Synod fails to meet the 'just demands' raised by them. In a media briefing on Tuesday, P.P. Gerard, Pastoral Council secretary, said the laity is expecting a honest and just action from the Synod which started its 11-day session on Monday.
A statement issued by John Moolan, convener, and Reju Kanjjokkaran, spokesman of the 'Almaya Munnettam' said that members of the 300 parishes in the archdiocese will join the siege if the Synod fails to take a proper and just decision.
The key demands of the laity included the restoration of auxiliary bishops Sebastian Adyanthrath and Jose Puthanveetil in their former positions and appointment of an archbishop for Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese with full autonomy. The publication of the reports on the land deals is another demand.
If the decision taken by the Synod fails to bring out truth and justice the faithful in the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese will launch an agitation to fulfill their demands. A meeting of the 'Almaya Munnettam' held at the Renewal Centre in Kaloor has decided to continue the struggle till the approval of the demands.
Sources said that the Synod has decided to restore the two auxiliary bishops only on a temporary basis for six months. The demand of new archbishop for the archdiocese with full autonomy was also not accepted. Official church sources, meanwhile, stated that news coming in the name of decisions taken by the Synod is without any basis.
