The Supreme Court order on the ownership of Malankara churches notwithstanding, the spat between the Orthodox and Jacobite factions continues to rage over the conduct of funeral rites and burial of bodies in church cemeteries.
In a statement issued here on Monday, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) Episcopal Synod secretary Yuhanon Mar Diascoros Metropolitan accused the Jacobite faction of raising the issue of burial of bodies in a bid to sabotage the Supreme Court order.
Cemetery for all
“The apex court has categorically stated that nobody could occupy the cemeteries as they should be maintained for the use of all parish members. However, the members of a parish are only those who accept the vicar of the church and receive sacraments from him,” the Metropolitan said in the statement.
Denying the reports regarding the Orthodox Church interrupting the burials of Jacobite followers in its churches, he also accused the Jacobite faction of forcefully conducting the burial of one of its members at the Varikoli church with the support of the police.
Regarding the Kayamkulam and Mandamangalam churches, the Kerala High Court has stated that except for the legally appointed vicar, no person could carry out funeral at these cemeteries.
Establishing rights
“If they do not assent to the funeral services offered by the Orthodox priests, I wonder how are they going to accept the masses or marriage sacraments offered by these very same priests. This should only be seen as an attempt to bargain and establish their rights that are non-existent,” noted the Metropolitan.
