The new apostolic administrator of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese Bishop Jacob Manathodath has exuded confidence that with everyone’s cooperation, the church will be able to overcome the bad name that has befallen it.
Speaking to the laity at St Mary’s Cathedral Basilica after officially taking charge on Saturday, Bishop Manathodath, the Bishop of Palakkad, said he was taking on the huge responsibility of resolving a crisis that the church was gong through. “With everyone’s sincere cooperation, this can be done and if I fail, it will be the failure of the archdiocese,” he said.
Bishop Manathodath said the archdiocese had a good name earned by the forebears, but its repute took a beating in recent times. “We should be able to reinstate the good name,” he said, soliciting everyone’s cooperation.
Bishop Manathodath took the oath in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro and Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry. Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro delivered the sermon during the service.
Meanwhile, Father Kuriakose Mundadan, former secretary of the Presbyteral Council, said priests possessed full confidence in the new apostolic administrator. Attributing the appointment of an independent apostolic administrator to the efforts taken by priests, he offered total support to Bishop Manathodath, who, he said, would be able to function without prejudice.
According to him, the suspension of the Presbyteral Council was a normal action. “When a new administrator takes over, councils presided over by the previous administrators are suspended.” Failure of internal forums to offer a suitable response forced the priests to go public on the issues raised by them. It was done to ensure that truth and justice prevailed, he said.
The report from Vatican has tasked the new administrator with looking into the ruckus created in public following the land deal that rocked the church.
Earlier in the day, in his circular, Bishop Manathodath urged the church officials to rein in their words, responses and actions in order to avoid any further escalation of the crisis.
The Bishop would go overseas from June 25 during which he would be in consultation with Rome. The newly appointed pro-protosyncellus, Father Varghese Pottakkal, will take urgent decisions during his absence, the circular said.
Vatican, in his report, has asked Bishop Manathodath to consult Major Archbishop Alencherry whenever needed, but his decisions would be taken independently. He would also hold a financial audit of the church for the last few years.