KOCHI: Activists of Joint Christian Council and Kerala Catholic Church Reform Movement have burned copies of the circular issued after the conclusion of the 27th Synod of Syro-Malabar Church warning stringent action against priests and nuns involved violation of the discipline of the Church. The activists also held a pr-otest meeting before the residence of the Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alenchery.
The protestors have called for ending the disciplinary action against Sr. Lucy Kalappura, implementation of the Church Act and freedom of expression for priests and nuns. The protestors also called for the withdrawal of the order transferring the four nuns who stood behind a nun filing a complaint of rape against Bishop Franco Mulakkal.
The Syro-Malabar Church has condemned the burning of the circular issued by the Major Archbishop. A spokes-person of the Church said such provocative acts deserve to be condemned by all. Such behaviour cannot be approved at any cost, the statement added.
The protest was marked by tension with few supporters of the church raising objections agai-nst event leading to verbal altercation between the two before police defused the situation. Speaking to reporters Indulekha Joseph, one of the protestor, said the circular issued by Cardinal Alenchery after the Syn-od is completely against the ideas of freedom of expression. The circular is a clear attempt to stifle whistle blowers to bring the nefarious activities of the some of the top functionaries of the church into the attention of the laity and the larger society.
The circular issued by Cardinal George Alench-ery at the conclusion of the Synod was read out in all churches coming under the Syro-Malabar Church on Sunday along with the Mass.
