Mangalam  dt. 21st April 2007

The Hindu   dt. 21st April 2007

Jacobite Bishop rules out unity moves

Staff Reporter

"Key element in the dispute is the status of the parish churches"

KOTTAYAM: Metropolitan Joseph Mor Gregorios, secretary of the Episcopal Synod of the Jacobite Syrian Church, has ruled out the possibility of unity with the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. He said they should come forward for an amicable settlement on the issue of disputed churches, as sister churches.

"The wait for unity is over. We had a long wait from 1995 when the Supreme Court declared its judgment in the Sabha Case till we drafted the 2002 Constitution," the Metropolitan said.

Talking to mediapersons here on Friday, Mor Gregorios said his Church welcomed mediatory efforts from any quarters with an open heart. "The key element in the dispute is the status of the parish churches," he said. There was no controversy over the large majority of the parish churches as the parishioners accepted either the 1934 Constitution of the Orthodox Church or the 2002 Constitution of the Jacobite Church. However, there were a few churches over which disputes exist.

"These Churches fall into three categories: those remaining closed; churches where the parishioners were with one Church and the priests supported the other Church; and three, where both the groups conducted prayers. Very few churches fall into these three categories and these disputes can be settled amicably and we are ready for sacrifices," he said.

"The problem arises when they seek control over 750 churches that belong to the Jacobite Church," the Metropolitan said. Mor Gregorios welcomed the apex court verdict of March 4, 2007, and said the verdict had validated the stance taken by the Jacobite Church after the 1995 judgment.

The directive by the Supreme Court on the cases related to the parish churches may lead to another round of legal battles, he said and called upon the Orthodox Church leaders to desist from such a course of action. "We are making this request not from a point of weakness or fear of defeat, but we want to put an end to the litigation which has cost both the churches dear, in money and goodwill," the Metropolitan said.

Catholicos Baselius Thomas I, head of the Jacobite Church, and other metropolitans will be given a reception at St Mary's Jacobite Church, Manarcadu, on Sunday. The Catholicos and the Bishops would address the flock on the implications of the recent Supreme Court verdict and the situation arising out of the judgment, he said.

Senior priests and lay leaders of the Jacobite Church were present at the press conference.