The Synod Hall of the Syro-Malabar Church opens on Monday amidst Expectations and Challenges

Kakkanad, Kochi: The Synod of the Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church is to begin on
Monday, 19 August at 10.00am at the Major Archiepiscopal Curia, Mount St. Thomas,
Kakkanad. This is the 48 th Session of the Synod and the second in the year. Out of the 63
bishops, 57 shall be participating in the Synod which lasts for 11 days, till 30 August 2019.
Six retired bishops have taken leave from attending the Synodal session due to old age and ill
health.

The Synod, this time, is going to deal with crucial issues and shall witness extensive
discussions on controversial matters. This is the first Synod after the termination of the
mandate of the Apostolic Administrator in the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly and the
suspension of the two auxiliary bishops of Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly from their
Office by Holy Father Pope Francis. The Holy Father has given the mandate to the Synod of
Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church to decide on the future ministry of the suspended
auxiliary bishops. The Synod will have to take a decision as per the mandate given to it.
It is also foreseen that the issues related the land deal of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-
Angamaly and the related activities of indiscipline by Church personnel. Some of them had
taken the issue to the streets. The involvement of the clergy of the Archdioce in fabricating
false documents against Cardinal Alencherry and seven other bishops of the Latin Church of
Kerala also would be a hard topic to deal with. The Kerala Police have already booked two
priests in the case, proving that the documents are forged with the intention to defame and to
malign the Church and its head. The Synod in the Oriental Churches is vested with immense
power to take decision in all matters which affects the life of the Church. And this time, it is
the turn of the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church to prove its merit.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Council (KCBC), in its Session a few months
before, supported the stand of the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church in the forged
documents case and urged the need to continue the investigation. The meeting also
disapproved the tendency of growing indiscipline among the clergy and the counter witness
to the Gospel in the public. (Press Statement Attached).

Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church has
made an appeal to all the Bishops and the Major Superiors to exhort the religious and the
people of God to pray for the successful conduct of the Synod, for the good of the Church
and the Glory of God.

Fr. Abraham Kavilpurayidathil, the Public Relations Officer of the Syro-Malabar Church released a press note regarding the Synod on 16 of this month.