Talks on with church factions
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The government which received flak for the lathi charge on the faithful participating in a funeral at St Mary’s Church, Pazhamthottam near here, on March 17, launched a fresh initiative on Wednesday to settle the rift between the Jacobite and Orthodox factions in the Malankara Church.
The cabinet sub-committee dealing with the issue met leaders of the rival factions in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday night.
The sub-committee comprised finance minister K.M. Mani, revenue minister Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan and Panchayats and Social Welfare minister M.K. Muneer. (The meeting was going on at the time of going to press).
Sources said the meeting was called to search for a solution on the four disputed churches including the Pazhamthottam Church. The other churches are in Kolencherry, Kanniyattunirappu, Mamalassery and Mannathur.
Meanwhile, in a new development, the Jacobite faction offered the rival Orthodox faction a time slot to conduct service at St Mary’s Church, Pazhanthottam.
However, the Jacobite faction has also sought a reciprocal gesture from the latter in other contentious churches including St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church, Kolencherry.
Jacobite church spokesman and metropolitan of the Kochi diocese Mar Joseph Gregorios told Deccan Chronicle that this was a solemn offer made by the majority group, that won the legal battle of 38 years, to the minority group.
He added that it is hoped that the rival faction would reciprocate the gesture in other disputed churches including St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church, Kolencherry.
But vicar of the Orthodox faction at the Pazhamthottam church, Cor Episcopa Fr Mathai Edayanal, told Deccan Chronicle that the case was dismissed on technical grounds and a fresh suit to overcome that was filed already.
Fr Mathai Edayanal added that the offer that has been put forward by the Jacobite church was good but the former should be ready to share all the churches under its control.
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