The Church is not of saints alone but is also of sinners who strive to achieve holiness, says the editorial of Sathyadeepam , published by the Ernakulam Archdiocesan Publication Trust, in its editorial on the sale of land belonging to the Syro-Malabar Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly. The land sale has unfolded into a scandal with allegations of substantial loss of money for the archdiocese.
Sincerely admitting to mistakes by Popes have increased the prestige of the Church. These confessions helped the world realise that the Church was not of saints alone but also of sinners who strive to achieve holiness, says the Sathyadeepam editorial.
The editorial says that the Syro-Malabar Church received two gifts during 2017, which was the jubilee year of the church being raised to the Archiepiscopal status. It is a matter of pride that there are more than five million believers, 34 dioceses, 62 bishops and more than 4,000 priests under the Syro-Malabar Church, says the editorial.
Land row
The second gift was the controversy over the land sale. Official steps have been taken to resolve the issues honestly and in the Christian spirit. These steps reveal the courage shown by the priestly leadership to bring out the truth. It is praiseworthy that two committees - one from inside the Archdiocese and another from the Syro-Malabar Synod of bishops, had been appointed to look into the matter, the editorial adds.
It went to observe that these steps should help resolve the issues, to heal wounds and not to hide the facts or to make compromises on mistakes.
The editorial also warns against hiding facts as trying to conceal issues from the public gaze was not in keeping with the spirit of the times.
Worries about the image of the Church should not force one to forget the realities, the editorial adds.
Whenever the Church forgot Christ in its pursuit of riches, it fell into crises. In this jubilee year, the crisis facing the Syro-Malabar Church must help it recognise the Amoses sent by God from time to time. (Amos, an Old Testament prophet, is described as having continuously spoken for social justice and against disparity between the rich and poor.)
