Hash tag backing for George Alencherry

Kochi: As the land deal row in the Catholic Church has intensified,  a social media campaign is on supporting Cardinal Mar George Alencherry.  Former SFI leader Sindhu Joy,  in her #SupportCardinalAlencherry hash tag campaign,   said that any move by a group of priests to defame Alencherry will be strongly resisted by over  50 lakh believers.

“Church matters are not meant for discussions in public forums and should not be made a tool for others’ sarcasm. The Church is not owned by two or four priests,  but it is a much bigger institution, comprising  over  50 lakh believers. How many believers support those very few who criticise the Archbishop? Will not forgive those who spread false campaign against the Cardinal alleging that he had committed corruption,” says the Facebook post of Sindhu Joy.

While many of those who commented on the post expressed doubts over the lack of transparency and possible corruption in the deal, a  few others lamented the allegations against a  revered person of eminence.

Meanwhile, various forums and organisations in the Church have come openly against the Archbishop.  

“As the Church has initiated a formal probe into the land scam, the Archbishop should stay away until the inquiry is over and the final report is submitted. Being a most transparent and structured institution, the ethical values and credibility of the Church will be at stake if he continues,” said Jose Pallipadan, former Forane secretary of All-Kerala Catholic Congress, Edappally unit.

Other organisations like ‘Open Church Movement’ have  sought a government probe into the irregularities in the land deal and warned that they will approach the court if action was not taken against the accused.