Land deal row: Church panel submits interim report

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Idukki: Despite continued tiff among church authorities, the inquiry commission, appointed by the official council of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese, has submitted its interim report. The commission was appointed to probe the controversial land deals under the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese. On Thursday, a meeting of the priests held at Ernakulam St Marys Basilica discussed the interterm report. Over 90% of the priests under the archdiocese attended the meeting.

“The interim report has recommended strict action against officials who failed to follow the directives of the church before selling the property. The priests’ group has already decided to submit a complaint to Pope Francis,” said a senior priest of the archdiocese.

“The priests’ meeting on Thursday discussed the controversial land deal and some priests wanted to submit a compliant to higher authorities on the issue. But, bishops directed them to wait till the inquiry commission’s final report,” said official spokesperson of Syro-Malabar church Fr Jimmy Poochakkat.

The archdiocese had appointed a committee to sell five plots owned by the church, located in and around Ernakulam town, to repay debts. They include 60 cents near Bharat Mata College, 69 cents near Naipunya School, one acre at Kollamkudimukal, 20 cents at Nilampathinjamukal and 54 cents at Maradu. The church expected to gain Rs 27 crore after sales. It is learnt that the buyer failed to pay the full amount before signing the final document and the church received only Rs 9 crore. The priests alleged that the deal was not right.

“The Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese’s debt was Rs 84.75 crore. The church decided to sell land and repay the debt. But, the church didn’t get adequate money through land sale,” said a senior priest of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese. “The land deal created a tiff in the church and priests were seeking an explanation from Cardinal Mar George Alencherry,” said a source. The six-member commission, appointed by the cardinal, will submit its report on January 31.