logo
Syro-Malabar Church row: Protestors blocking suspended priests held

Syro-Malabar Church row: Protestors blocking suspended priests held

KOCHI: Tensions flared on Thursday morning outside the Archbishop's House at Broadway, as the police arrested and removed protestors who attempted to block suspended priests of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese from attending a crucial meeting convened to address the ongoing Syro-Malabar unified Holy Mass dispute.
The meeting, scheduled for 10 am, was called by Archbishop Joseph Pamplany, Vicar of the Major Archbishop for the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly. However, by 9 am, a large crowd supporting unified mass had gathered outside the premises.
They started shouting slogans declaring that priests who had been suspended for opposing the unified Mass system should not be allowed entry.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Forcible conversions happening in Kerala, not in Chhattisgarh: Syro-Malabar Church
Forcible conversions happening in Kerala, not in Chhattisgarh: Syro-Malabar Church

The Hindu

timea day ago

  • The Hindu

Forcible conversions happening in Kerala, not in Chhattisgarh: Syro-Malabar Church

The Syro-Malabar Church has said that forcible religious conversions were happening in Kerala, not in Chhattisgarh. In a statement issued by the Syro Malabar Church media commission, the Church noted that the main allegation against nuns serving in Chhattisgarh was that they were engaging in forcible religious conversion. 'However, the significant issue is the forceful religious conversion occurring in Kothamangalam in Ernakulam. A Christian girl ended her life after forceful conversion threats,' the statement said. The family of the 23-year-old girl from Kothamangalam raised allegations of forcible religious conversion after she died by suicide. A note recovered from the house alleged that she was pressured by her boyfriend and his father to embrace their faith, it said. It was unfortunate that girls did not realise that 'religious fundamentalists were exploiting love as a means to deceive women,' the statement said. 'It is expected that the accused will be punished. Political parties should oppose such elements,' it added.

Suicide note mentions pressure to convert, Kerala woman's death prompts anger and an arrest
Suicide note mentions pressure to convert, Kerala woman's death prompts anger and an arrest

Indian Express

timea day ago

  • Indian Express

Suicide note mentions pressure to convert, Kerala woman's death prompts anger and an arrest

A 23-year-old student in Kerala died by suicide, allegedly after she was 'tortured' by a man and his family who insisted that she convert to his faith. The issue has triggered anger in Kerala, with the Kerala Hindu Aikyavedi and Syro-Malabar Church flagging it as a case of 'love jihad'. The woman, Sona Eldose, from Kothamangalam in Ernakulam district, was found dead at her house on Saturday. After a purported suicide note was recovered from her room, police on Monday arrested the man, Ramees, and charged him with abetting suicide and physical assault. Two weeks ago, Ramees, a part-time employee at Cochin International Airport, was picked up by the police on allegations of immoral trafficking. In the note, Sona, a college student, alleged: 'When he was caught for immoral traffic, I pardoned him. But he, again and again, proved that he doesn't love me. I was ready for a registered marriage (without religious ceremonies). But he wanted me to convert. After taking me out of my home under the pretext of registering the marriage, he lodged me at his house, where his family members insisted that I should convert. When I refused, they tortured me.' Sona's brother Basil told the media that she and Ramees met in college. 'She was earlier ready to convert. But three months ago, our father died, and the marriage could only be held a year later. Earlier this month, when Ramees was caught for immoral trafficking, Sona changed her mind on converting. But he was insistent and wanted to stay at a religious centre at Ponnani (in Malappuram) for two months. They even made arrangements to take her there. When she refused to go, Ramees and his family members tortured her after detaining her at their house,' he alleged. The woman eventually returned home, where she took the extreme step. Police said Sona sent the note to Ramees's mother on Saturday. She then informed Sona's mother, Bindu, who was away from home. When Bindu reached home, Sona was dead. It was initially registered as a case of unnatural death, but Ramees was made an accused following the recovery of the purported suicide note and WhatsApp chats between the two. R V Babu, the state president of Kerala Hindu Aikyavedi, an umbrella outfit of Sangh Parivar organisations, said Kerala's 'secular' society is busy criticising the film, The Kerala Story, even though it reflects the truth. Syro-Malabar Church's media commission said political parties should show the courage to oppose all tendencies that pose a threat to secularism. 'It is sad that girls still fail to understand the religious extremists who make use of genuine love as a weapon of betrayal. It is expected that the law will take its course. Or, are we going to see the law taking the course of certain organised forces?' the commission said in a statement. It said forced conversion is happening in Kothamangalam (Kerala), and not in Chhattisgarh, where two nuns were arrested recently.

Catholic groups slam Odisha mob violence
Catholic groups slam Odisha mob violence

Hindustan Times

time4 days ago

  • Hindustan Times

Catholic groups slam Odisha mob violence

The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) and the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala on Friday protested strongly against the alleged mob attack on two Catholic priests, two nuns and a catechist in Balasore district of Odisha on Wednesday. Catholic groups slam Odisha mob violence According to the Church, the attack on the Christian group was led by members of Bajrang Dal, an affiliate of the Sangh Parivar, in Jaleswar on false suspicions of illegal religious conversions in the area. Mar Andrews Thazhath, metropolitan archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church in Thrissur, told reporters on Friday that the attack on the group comprising priests and nuns took place while the latter were returning after taking part in a special mass organised in connection with the deaths of two church members in the area. 'The group comprised Fr Lijo Palakkaran and Fr Jijo, both of them natives of Kerala, two nuns and a local catechist. They had gone to Jaleshwar for the special mass as well as to discuss the jubilee celebrations of the local parish. So you can understand how old the Catholic congregation there is. After the function ended at 9 pm, the catechist departed on a two-wheeler followed by the priests and nuns in a car. A few kilometres away, the catechist was stopped by members of an extremist group. They took away his cell-phone, deflated the bike's tyres, tore his shirt and hurled verbal abuses,' said Thazhath. 'The vehicle containing the priests and nuns were also stopped by the mob. They were accused of conducting illegal religious conversions. The priests faced extreme verbal attacks from the mob. The incident shows how democracy and secularism are under threat in this country,' added Thazhath, who is also the president of the CBCI. Meanwhile, Sujata Jena, nun of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Odisha, said attacking someone based on religious attire is a violation of constitutional rights, human dignity, and a punishable offence. 'In Odisha, Christians are denied burials, forced to renounce faith, detained on false charges, and physically assaulted. Tribal villagers now demand 'ghar wapsi,' or reconversion, for burial permission; a cruel exchange of faith for dignity in death,' she said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store