Submission by the members of the church before the venerable Synod of the Major Archiepiscopal Church of Ernakulam-Angamaly for urgent
consideration and effective action thereupon:

Dear Cardinal, Archbishops and Bishops,
We, the lay faithful of Syro-Malabar church with due respect to the venerable
Synod of Bishops hereby raise a series of issues that cause great concern and
anxiety and moral dilemma to us. The church has been the conscience of our
society, and it has to be ever so. But of late, scandals have defaced the good will
of the church and threatened the faith of the younger generation.

Corruption of Authority
We, the laity, perceive public opinion better than any priest or religious as we are
more immersed in the society. Generally, society expresses itself with disgust the
corruption of church authority. The church authority is not better than the political in
the secular world. Party always defends its members and above all its leaders. The
members always and every time keep total allegiance to its top leadership. Party
always opposes the other party. The other party is always in error and should
prove always as such that ours is the only party, which is always right. This
Manichaeism is the social reality and every party is living, a Marxian dialectics
which is a modern Manichaeism. Such fundamentalism has crept into the politics,
now the church proves no exception.

Post-Truth Era of lies, Spite and Animosity Priests of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly are being isolated and attackedwith repeated hate language and fabricated lies. A lot of animosity is being spreadthrough consistent propaganda of hate language, which has a centre in Mount St.Thomas. An investigation will reveal the involvement of priests, if not Bishops.Repeated activities of weeding out priests of the archdiocese from seminaries andother centres are being implemented with the support of leaders in the church.There are lie-fabricating centres against their targets chosen with the consent andconnivance of certain high individuals in the church. 

Moral LeadershipNormal sense of moral person fails to understand the stand of the KCBC in two ofits press statements fully supporting the accused Bishop Franco. This is what onesees also with the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church. What motivated them toalign themselves with the accused Bishop? Is it some sense of justice or morals?Why such acts were not seen in the case of BishopThattunkal or even in the case of Sr. Abhaya, where two priests were arrested and persecuted and kept undercustody. Bishops made no press statements or participation in protest meetings.Why then here alone? The difference is simply money power. What is the messagethat gives to the public?  

Cases of Land Scam and Financial Misappropriation : Stories of land scam come from many dioceses in India and abroad. We are really confused. Mentioned below are only a few among the many allegations and theyare only tip of the iceberg yet to surface.

1. Liand scam reported in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly involving the Major
Archbishop points to the nexus with the land mafia and the estimated loss is
more than 400 crores.
2. Allegation regarding the purchase of the Procura in Rome and the accusations against Mar Stephen Chirappanath and the Major Archbishop
amounting to multiple crores. Reports from social media and other media's are un answered so far.
3. About 500 acres of land was sold at throwaway price to Joy Arackal (Kappal
Joy) by Mar Jose Porunnedam flouting the provisions of canon law. This has been a serious discussion amoung the laity believers and is not clarified yet.
4. Mar Andrews Thazhath sold the land at Mundoor which was earmarked for housing for the poor under Santhwanam Trust, and the money is not seen in the trust accounts. Kerala Koumudi news paper had reported it with full details at least an year back (December 2017).
5. Land owned by Thoomkuzhy Mariamma Memorial Charitable Trust founded by Fr.Joseph Thoomkuzhy was avariciously claimed by Mar Mathew Arackal. The case filed by Fr Thoomkuzhy is still under trial in the district court, Thodupuzha.
6. Mrs. Monica Thomas, widow of late Dr Thomas Arackal, who was in Germany is fighting a case against Kanjirappally diocese for grabbing her
properties.

7. There are allegations against the mega medicity that is being built at Cherpunkal in Pala diocese. Mar Joseph Kallarangatt is said to be directly
involved in this. The confusion in this project is still a big question mark for the believers. 
8. Huge amount was collected for the starting a TV channel in Changanacherry, accounts of which are still said to be unclear. The allegations regarding this project is a very serious discussion on the social media.
9. The Archdiocese of Changanacherry protected Fr Thomas Peelianickal,who is accused of money laundering.

Sex Scandals and other Moral Issues
10. Fr Robin Vadakumchery, accused of raping and impregnating the minor girl, was protected by the Bishop of Mananthavady even after the police had
issued arrest warrant. It is proved that his flight ticket to Canada was purchased from the office of Wayanad Social Service Society’s office at
Dwaraka, Manathavady. Fr Robin, before being arrested at Muringoor, was hid by the church. Fr Therakaom, a close associate of Mar Porunnedam,
tried to save Fr Robin violating the laws of the land. Mar Jose Porunnedam, who tried to cover up the issue, has to take up responsibility for his crime
and follow the instruction of Pope Francis. All these are allegations came in all the media's and the same has not yet been properly answered. We the believers want to know the truth behind this.
11. It is alleged that Fr Jino Mekkad, the former Assistant parish priest of Chundakkara in Mananthavady was protected by Mar Porunnedam, even after his unlawful relations with a minor was reported to the bishop a few years back.
12. In the rape case involving Bishop Franko, the bishops totally sided with the accused. The victim nun, who is also a member of the church, was targeted. Was it the teaching of the Bible and the Church to take such a position? What was the ethical stand that Pope Francis was talking about so loudly? Where was out option for the poor and taking the side of the victim?
13. Fr. Philip Nechikkattil CMI, Principal of St. Vincent’s School in Pala is being
accused of having relationship with a minor girl, student of his own school. The
said priest had been found fault with similar crimes more than twice, earlier in
his ministry. Despite all the criminalities, he was elected vice-provincial of the
CMIs. This is a clear instance where church authorities fail to take effective
action against clerics when those persons are influential.

14. Church lost its moral power in all the above-mentioned cases and had to
succumb to the pressures from the political parties. Our bishops miserably
failed to address the liquor and educational policies of the Kerala government.
Dear Archbishops and Bishops, we do love the church.

We want the church stand head high with strong faith and firm values. Erroneous prelates and clerics need to be corrected according to the laws of the church and our community has to be once again the moral voice of the world. Please read this with the Christmas message of the Holy Father addressed to the Vatican staff on 21 Dec 2018 that the “Catholic Church will never again cover up clergy sex abuse and demanded thatpriests who have raped and molested children turn themselves in.”

We the lay faithful, representing five millions of our members, humbly ask the venerable Synod to discuss about all the above allegations and take effective steps to correct the errors and declare to the world that we are true followers of Christ. 

Prayerfully and obediently in Christ Jesus,

Undersigned Members of the Syro-Malabar Church