The Hindu : New Delhi News : Synod demands Wilson's apology

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Wednesday, Sep 07, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Synod demands Wilson's apology

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Describing the questioning of the "ecclesiastical'' order of the Church and its authority by St. Stephen's College Principal Anil Wilson as a matter of grave concern, the Synod of the Church of North India on Tuesday said any effort to move the institution away from the Church would not be tolerated by the community and demanded that Dr. Wilson apologise for his recent statements.

Expressing solidarity with the college's Supreme Council which it said was struggling to uphold the Church's position of maintaining the Christian character of the college and its minority status, the Synod said the Moderator of the Church of North India, the Most Rev. Z. James Terom, had asked the Bishop of Delhi to convene the Supreme Council meeting at the earliest and take steps to stop matters from deteriorating.

Reacting to the allegations, Dr. Wilson, however, defended his position and said his stance was being misread. "I have the greatest respect for all Church leaders and functionaries but I am also concerned about reforms in our system. To suggest that a plea for reform is `anti-Church' is to misunderstand matters,'' Dr. Wilson told The Hindu.

Responding to the statement made by the Rev. Valson Thampu, Member of the National Council for Minority Educational Institutions, on Tuesday accusing Dr. Wilson of trying to discredit the Christian community, Dr. Wilson said he was "delighted'' by the Rev. Thampu's new-found love for the Church. Quoting an article written by the latter in `Tehelka', Dr. Wilson said the Rev. Thampu himself had observed that "people hide behind the façade of religious status to sugar-coat the offensiveness of their conduct and to escape the arm of law."

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