Jacobites denied entry into church buildings once more, Secretariat march tomorrow

By Express News Service
KOCHI: Jacobite faction members of the Malankara Church tried to re-enter a number of church buildings throughout the state, which had been handed over to the Orthodox faction following the Supreme Court verdict, for the fifth consecutive Sunday.

In most of the church buildings, the monks and laity members had been stopped by police on the gates. According to sources, besides within the church buildings in Puthencruz, Kadamattom and Kandanad, entry for the laity was denied within the different church buildings throughout the state.

They weren’t allowed to enter the cemeteries both. The faction members had been blocked by police at church buildings together with St Mary’s Church in Kattachira close to Kayamkulam, St John’s Church at Kannyaattunirappu, St Mary’s Church at Vadavukode and St

George Church at Mannathoor in Kochi, St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church in Thrissur. Initially, the faction members had been denied entry into St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church at Puthencruz and St George Church, Kadamattom, however later the parishioners had been allowed to supply prayers on the cemeteries.

Tension prevailed at Kattachira St Mary’s Church because the Jacobites had been prevented from getting into it. A Jacobite faction member alleged that their vicar, Fr Roy George, was attacked by police after they had been protesting in entrance of the church.  

“The gates were locked and the police blocked us from entering the church. Later, we staged a sit-in protest and the police used force to disperse us. That is when the vicar was attacked. However, there were no major injuries,” he stated. Protests had been reported from over 50 church buildings that had been taken over from the Jacobite faction.

Meanwhile, the satyagraha staged by the faction in entrance of the Secretariat demanding an ordinance to beat the court docket ruling in opposition to the Jacobite faction entered the tenth day on Sunday. The members of the faction will take out a Secretariat march on Tuesday. Priest trustee of the Jacobite faction Fr Sleeba Paul Vattavelil stated the march will taken out following the Covid protocol. “A mass petition signed by hundreds of faithful will be submitted to the government at the end of the march. Till the ordinance is passed, we will continue our protest, even if it takes years,” stated Fr Sleeba.

Police attacked priest: Parishioner

Tension prevailed at Kattachira St Mary’s Church because the Jacobites had been prevented from getting into it. A Jacobite faction member alleged that their vicar, Fr Roy George, was attacked by police after they had been protesting in entrance of the church.