The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church has warned Ramban Yuhanon of Piramadam Dayara, near Muvattupuzha, against joining any movement against the Church leadership. Church sources said on Sunday that the Ramban had not been barred from carrying out his pastoral duties but been told not to associate with programmes organised against the Church leadership.
A Ramban is a priest of the Jacobite Church, who is unmarried and leads a monastic life similar to that of a monk at a place of prayer, which is called a Dayara. The warning comes in the wake of the Ramban being a presence in the 14-day public protest by Catholic nuns and Church reform-minded organisations demanding the arrest of Jalandhar bishop Franco Mulakkal, who is accused of raping a nun. The public protest was called off on Friday after the bishop was arrested in Kochi by the Kerala Police. Sources said the Ramban is a prominent figure in a group within the Jacobite Church that has demanded the implementation of the proposed Church Act. The demand for the Church Act by reform-minded groups has grown vociferous over the years as a measure to bring more accountability to the handling of the material possessions of Christian churches in Kerala.
