The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Laity can give advice to Bishops: Vithayathil

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Wednesday, Nov 03, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Laity can give advice to Bishops: Vithayathil

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, NOV. 2. The laity has the right to give advice to Bishops and they should utilise the right, the Major Archbishop, Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, has said.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Syro-Malabar Major Archi-Episcopal Assembly at the Mount St Thomas, Kakkanad, on Sunday. He termed the 377-member Assembly of the church as an `advisory body at the highest level'. The Assembly should play its part in vital areas such as family and education, he said.

Relook needed

Globalisation and unchecked consumerism are making fissures in the family. There has to a relook of the Church's role in education. There has to be transparency in the sector. Some people are getting alienated from the Church because of the actions of a few people within the Church. The Assembly should play its part in correcting wrongs of the past, he said. The Assembly will conclude on Friday.

The Assembly is being held simultaneously with the synod of Bishops. Thirty-four Bishops are participating in the synod.

Demand

In a statement issued here today, Paul Thelekkat, the spokesman of the Syro-Malabar Church, said that Job Chitilappilly was murdered in Thrissur without any provocation. This and the attack on nuns and brothers of the Missionaries of Charity in Kozhikode show where the State is heading for. The accused persons have to be brought to book at the earliest, he said.

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