13 bishops face probe in Kerala

The left Democratic Front in Kerala asks the DGP to conduct a high-level probe against 13 senior bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church.

The left Democratic Front in Kerala has asked the Director General of Police (DGP) to conduct a high-level probe against 13 senior bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church following a complaint that the Church was implementing religious laws that were against the Constitution.

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Catholic Laymen’s Association central executive committee member M.L. George has petitioned the government accusing the prelates of running kangaroo courts, collecting court fee, insisting on plaints on stamp paper, appointing priests and nuns as parallel judges and evading income tax after collecting huge foreign funds.

The latest move is likely to further vitiate the relationship between the government and the Catholic church. Both are at loggerheads over a number of issues, including the self-financing colleges and new textbook issues. Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishanan said there was nothing unusual in the government referring a compliant to a competent authority. Church leaders are yet to react to the reports.