Section of priests trying to tarnish image of Church: VV Augustine

Kochi: As the controversy over the land deals in the Syro-Malabar Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese persisted,  Mr V. V Augustine,  former member of the National Commission for Minorities and a member of the pastoral council alleged that a section of clergymen with vested interests was trying to tarnish the image of the Church.

"The land transaction row is an issue which should be discussed and resolved within the Church.  It is unfair to drag it to the public domain for personal interests," he said.

He denied the reports that Cardinal Mar George Alencherry was forcibly prevented from attending the presbyters' council on Thursday.

"A group of laity, including me, met the Cardinal and submitted a written request to convene an urgent meeting of the pastoral council, a body of elected representatives of laity and priests, to discuss the inquiry commission report on the land deal. The pastoral council is a people's forum and it is mandatory for the Church leadership to present all important matters before the forum. It will be a violation of Canon law if the probe report is not submitted before the pastoral council," he said.

The Cardinal himself decided to postpone the meeting as he realised that "our demand is genuine," according to Mr Augustine.

He alleged that the final probe report of the commission was leaked to the media before it was submitted to the presbyters' council meeting.  "Being a believer, it is my responsibility to uphold the image of the Church and find an immediate solution to the crisis. We will not allow  probe report to be submitted in any other body before it is discussed in the pastoral council," he added.