Kollam: The Kollam Bishop’s House has rebutted the allegations raised by some church members against Bishop Stanley Roman regarding his interference in the sale of diocesan properties and transfer of staff. The Bishop’s House said that it was an act of “revenge by a group of rebels who are executing a hidden agenda to insult the Father.”
The Kollam Additional Munsif Court had earlier issued a temporary injunction order preventing the bishop from intervening in the administration of the Church and associated institutions based on a petition by the Church action council.
In the petition, it was alleged that the bishop had violated the Universal Law known as ‘Apostolic Constitution’ or the Canon Law.
“The immediate ex-diocesan Bishop of Kollam completed the age of 75 on June 4, 2016 and thereafter his position is only as the caretaker of the Kollam diocese and he can do only spiritual functions. But on the pretext of the diocesan bishop, he acts as the bishop with full powers as per the provisions of Canon Law,” the petition said.
As per Vatican Council II, a bishop who completes 75 years is requested to offer his resignation to the Pope.
It was alleged that the bishop with the connivance of others in the Bishop’s House was trying to execute documents for selling diocesan properties and for withdrawing huge amount from bank accounts and also taking hasty steps for transferring staff and priests working at different institutions of Kollam diocese.
The complaint also said that his actions can only be treated as illegal which has no sanction from the supreme pontiff and that he has no authority to handle the funds of the diocese or to interfere with the administration, function and day-to-day affairs and policy decisions of institutions under the Kollam diocese.
Meanwhile, sources from the Bishop’s House alleged the move to be an act of revenge for not giving “favourable appointment to teachers” in the institutions under the Kollam diocese.
“The conspiracy against the bishop started some two-three months back. The bishop, who has completed 75 years of age, has already submitted his resignation to the Pope. He can lawfully continue in the post until the canonical authority appoints a new bishop. Those who conspire against the bishop are interpreting the Canon Law in their own terms. The bishop is also not intervening in any of the major decisions in his current position,” sources told this newspaper.
“As it is the month of forgiveness, we forgive the sinners and prefer not to respond to such false allegations,” they said.
