Crisis in Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese: Priests counter suggestion by Mar Powathil

KOCHI: Fr Sebastian Thaliyan, convenor of Ernakulam-Angamaly Athirupatha Samrakshan Samithi, an organisation of priests in the archdiocese, on Wednesday issued a communique countering the opinion of veteran bishop Joseph Powathil that only a new diocese would solve the crisis in the archdiocese.

“The opinion of the bishop published in certain media that only a new diocese would solve the crisis is his personal opinion. This opinion challenges the decision of the synod of the Syro-Malabar Church,” said Fr Thaliyan.

Thaliyan said that the land deal crisis was an internal issue of the archdiocese. It was a deliberate move by those with vested interests to convert the issue into a move against the head of the church and to make it an issue of the Syro-Malabar church as a whole. The move to divide the archdiocese, terming it as a solution for the crisis, would only result in the hampering the unity of the church.

The priest said that such statements has no relevance or propriety.

According to media reports, Bishop Powathil had suggested that a diocese specially made for the major archbishop--who is the head of the Syro Malabar Church--with just five or six parishes under it would only solve the crisis in Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese.