‘Records forged to defame church’

Kochi: An emergency meeting of members of the permanent Synod of Syro-Malabar Church available to review the latest developments in connection with the forged documents case has stated that the documents were created with the purpose of defaming the church and persons heading it.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Media Commission of Syro-Malabar Church has said investigation in the case should go ahead and book the guilty involved in the creation of the forged documents.        

The source of the forged documents and the conspiracy behind it should be subjected to a comprehensive investigation, the Media Commission said. Saying that the emergency meeting of the Synod held at the St Thomas Mount at Kakkanad in Kochi has reviewed all aspects connected with the case. “We also endorse the demand made by Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese that all aspects connected with the forged document case deserves a comprehensive investigation”, the media commission said.

The commission, however, cautioned that everyone should keep a vigil against the attempt to sabotage the probe or to demoralise the officials involved in the probe. “Unprecedented things are happening in connection with the forged document case and all members of the church should handle the issue with care and responsibility. Unnecessary comments harming the unity of the church should be avoided by everybody”, the commission said.

It has also urged a section of the media to desist from attempts to create an impression that the entire Syro-Malabar Church is facing a crisis by highlighting an isolated incident in one of the archdioceses.

Removal of Bishop Manthodath sought

A group of persons claiming to be members of Ernakulam-Ang-amaly archdiocese sou-ght the removal of Bishop Jacob Manthodath, the apostolic administrator of the archdiocese, from the post for his partisan views and actions. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday they said that Bishop Manthodath appointed by the Vatican to resolve problems in the archdiocese has become a party to worsening the issues.

Josy James, Tejoy Thomas, Denny Thomas, Joy Munjeli and a few others belonging to various Foranes of the archdiocese also called for the resignation of auxiliary bishop Sebastian Adyanthrath from his post. The two bishops have committed a serious offence by addressing a press conference in support of the persons suspected to be involved in forging documents to implicate Cardinal George Alencherry, major archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church. The silence and dignity maintained by Cardinal Alencherry is the main reason for the prevailing calm and peace in the church, they added.