10-April-2007
Mangalam dt.10th April 2007
The Hindu dt.10th April 2007
Jacobite Church hails court verdict
Staff Reporter
KOCHI: The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church has welcomed the Supreme Court decision announced last Wednesday, which Catholicos of the Jacobite Church Baselios Thomas I had described on Monday as upholding the stance taken by the group since the 1995 Supreme Court verdict on the dispute between the two factions of the Malankara church. Addressing a press conference here, the Catholicos alleged that the Orthodox group was making attempts through the media to create an impression that it was victorious in its latest court battle against the Jacobite group.
But, the Supreme Court had rejected a plea by the Orthodox group for police protection to enter the churches it named in its petition, said the Catholicos.
The Supreme Court also refused to make Catholicos Didymos I a party to the case in place of Catholicos Mathews II, said a statement issued to the press. This validated the stand that the election of Catholicos Didymos I and his ordination were invalid, he said.
As a result, the validity of the Association and elections held under the directions of Catholicos Didymos I needed to be proved before the court, the statement said.
The Catholicos said the Jacobite Church was ready to open negotiations accepting the fact that these were two separate churches.
Synod Secretary of the Jacobite Church Joseph Mar Gregorios; Metropolitan Mulavarickal Benyamin Ramban; Church secretary Thampu George Thukalan; and Trustee George Mathew Thekkethalakkal were among those present at the press conference.