To: Mar Mathew Moolakkatt, Archbishop of the Knanaya Catholic Archdiocese of Kottayam

Subject: Formal Appeal for Resignation Following the Kerala High Court Verdict (23.03.2026)

We, the undersigned members of the global Knanaya Catholic community, write this appeal with a profound sense of responsibility toward our heritage. In light of the Kerala High Court judgment delivered on 23.03.2026 (RSAs 656, 675, 725/22 & 23/23), we believe the Archdiocese has reached a critical turning point that calls for a change in leadership.

The preservation of the Knanaya identity relies on a leadership that is both administratively capable and deeply committed to our foundational traditions—most notably the practice of endogamy, which has defined our community for centuries. Unfortunately, your tenure has been marked by a widening disconnect between the office of the Archbishop and the faithful, specifically regarding the following:

• Judicial and Moral Accountability: The recent High Court verdict has significant implications for our structural integrity. We believe leadership must take full moral responsibility for the legal and social outcomes that now threaten our long-standing customs.
• Abandonment of the Diaspora: Your public statements over the years asserting that you are "not the Bishop of the Knanaya Diaspora" created a massive division in our community. A real leader represents the entire lineage; by distancing yourself, you’re essentially abandoning a vital part of who we are, a part of our living heritage.
• Inaction in Safeguarding Tradition: While our ancestors painstakingly preserved our unique identity, your leadership has been characterized by an apparent indifference to defending these practices against modern erosion.

Leadership is defined by the protection of the values that bind a community together. When a leader no longer aligns with the philosophical and cultural tenets of their people, they can no longer effectively serve as a symbol of unity.

Therefore, for the good of the Knanaya people worldwide, we respectfully but firmly call upon Mar Mathew Moolakkatt to:

1. Accept moral responsibility for the current state of the Archdiocese and the impact of recent legal developments.
2. Step down from your position as Archbishop to allow for new leadership that will wholeheartedly defend our cultural heritage and restore confidence among the global Knanaya faithful.

We make this request not out of personal grievance, but out of a collective necessity to safeguard our future. Our community deserves a leader who will stand as a guardian of our ancestral lineage and ensure the survival of the Knanaya identity for generations to come.

With respect and prayerful consideration,

The Undersigned Members of the Global Knanaya Catholic Community