More powers for Mar Sebastian Adayanthrath

Kochi: A diocesan circular will be read out in churches in the Ernakulam – Angamaly archdiocese during the Sunday mass to formally inform the laity on the changes in the power structure of the Church leadership.

A circular said auxiliary archbishop of the archdiocese, Mar Sebastian Adayanth- rath, had been entrusted with resolving the land deal issue in consultation with various canon committees. He was recently given more powers as per the decision of general synod meeting.

Since Cardinal Mar George Alencherry has to spend more time for the general affairs, he rarely gets time to take care of administrative matters and hence, it said, the auxiliary archbishop will be responsible for the day-to-day administration.

He will convene various canon committees and chair the meetings. Mar Jose Puthenveettil will assist him.

However, all important decisions have to be taken in consultation with the Cardinal and submit regular reports to him. Though the land deal controversy is an internal issue of the archdiocese, it has impacted the Syro Malabar Church since it happened at its seat of power. If the issue is not resolved at the earliest, it will bring irreparable damage not only to the archdiocese but also to the entire Catholic Church in Kerala, according to the circular.

“Despite the fact that the current issue is not linked to liturgical differences, there are deliberate attempts to twist the fact,” it said.

The circular warned against making comments through social media or mainstream media. All matters regarding the archdiocese will be communicated only through the public relations officer.

The Catholic church in Kerala has been in the centre of controversy in connection with a series of land deals through which the church suffered losses to the tune of Rs 18.17 crore.