Church trustees question actions of dissidents, raise graft charges

Church trustees question actions of dissidents, raise graft charges

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Kochi

THE Syro-Malabar Catholic Church's special tribunal for the Ernakulam-Angamaly archeparchy, constituted to hear allegations of financial malpractices and defiance by Fr Varghese Manavalan, has decreed his eviction from the clergy room and presbytery of Ernakulam St Mary's Cathedral Basilica. The order is to be enforced within 10 days of its receipt by the vicar of the major archbishop of the archeparchy, Joseph Pamplany. It also approved the use of force, by requesting the assistance of the police, to enforce the decree.

According to Joy George, trustee of St Mary's Basilica, the special tribunal is unprecedented in the history of the Syro-Malabar Church. "Nor has such strong action been decreed against a priest," he added.

According to the tribunal, Mar Pamplany must issue an instruction in writing to Fr Manavalan to move out of the presbytery by handing over the office and documents to the duly appointed administrator Fr Tharian Njaliath within 24 hours of the receipt of the order. The tribunal, which held its hearings at Mount St Thomas in Kakkanad, also directed the chancery of the archeparchy to submit an action taken report to it on or before June 22.