Kochi: Crucial meet of permanent synod from today

Kochi: The permanent synod of the Syro-Malabar Church will hold a sitting from Friday amidst the deepening crisis after many priests of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese expressed "no confidence" in their major archbishop, Cardinal George Alencherry.

The laity and the priests will be looking eagerly whether the synod will recommend disciplinary action against the nearly 200 priests who passed a resolution questioning the decision to reappoint him as the apostolic administrator the archdiocese. The permanent synod comprised five senior bishops including the cardinal.

Bishops of Thalassery, Thrissur,  Kottayam and Ernakulam-Angamaly will be attending the meeting to be chaired by Cardinal Alencherry.

Although the official version says that it was to discuss issues connected with the administrative matters of the church, the revolt of priests could also figure at the meeting.

The synod is also likely to discuss the action, if any, needed to be taken against the dissident priests. A section of the clergy feels that the dissident priests committed a major breach of discipline that calls for exemplary punishment.

But the dissident priests have threatened that any disciplinary action will only aggravate the situation.