Kochi: A group of dissident priests in the Syro-Malabar Church has opposed the return of Cardinal George Alencherry to the governing committee of the archdiocese.
The dissident priests had convened a meeting at Aluva. They issued a press release based on the decisions taken at the meeting. The release opposes Cardinal George Alencherry being reinstated as the chief of diocese and strongly condemns the move.
The dissidents claim that 160 priests took part in the meeting at Aluva. They view the reinstatement of Cardinal George Alencherry in the cover of darkness as disgraceful. They condemned and opposed the side-lining of Auxiliary Bishops Jose Puthenveettil and Sebastian Edayanthrath.
The press release points out the lack of clarity regarding the circumstances under which Cardinal George Alencherry was reinstated as the chief of diocese. At present, a directive from Vatican say that the apostolic administrator has been changed. There is no official clarification regarding the handing over of authority to Cardinal George Alencherry, they pointed out.
Meanwhile, a group of priests in the archdiocese has announced no-cooperation with the Cardinal. A group has publically announced that they cannot accept the Cardinal who is facing allegations regarding sale of church land. No appointments or transfers will be accepted or allowed to be implemented till the next synod, the dissident priests pointed out.
