Kochi: The Joint Church Protection Committee has opined that the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese Pastoral Council meeting, which disobeys the Pope and the Syro Malabar Synod, is completely anti-church and immoral. Condemning the Pastoral Council meeting held at Kaloor Renewal Centre on Saturday and demanding the sacking of the Pastoral Secretary, the Joint Church Protection Committee staged a sit-in protest wearing black ribbons.

The protestors have put forward various demands such as the implementation of a unified liturgy in the Archdiocese as per the call of the Pope, the dissolution of the Pastoral Council and the Archdiocesan Curia that do not respect or recognize superiors, the withdrawal of the action against Fr. Celestine. The leaders of the committee demanded that the Secretary of the Pastoral Council, who led the burning of the effigy of the head of the Syro-Malabar Church, Major Archbishop, and the President of the Eastern Church, who is the representative of the Pope, should either step down from the post of secretary, or he should be removed by the church leadership.

Committee Coordinator KR Sunny presided over the protest meeting. Shaibi Pappachan, Johnny Thotakkara, James Elavumkudi, Biju Netikadan, OD Xavier, Paul Chethalan, Jomon Arakuzha, Johnson Mathew, VA Augustine, Davis Churamana, Lijoy Paul and Shijo Jacob spoke during the occasion.