Two and a half years over and still confrontation ..

Its been two and a half years since the SC verdict on the court case between Malankara and Jacobite orthodox Christians in Kerala has come out.

There are many questions the ordinary believer is asking both the churches, the believers need an answer to this.

• Has the implementation been smooth and tension free ? 
• Who is responsible for the implementation of the SC verdict ? 
• Why is it taking so long for arriving at a peaceful solution ? 
• Who is acting against peace in the united church ?
• Who is in charge of the implementation of the verdict ?

On the face of it, three approaches are possible

• 1. Learned and respectable leaders from both the factions need to sit across the table and have discussions, respectful and peaceful
• 2. Petition at each and every court to forcefully and unilaterally implement the SC verdict, literally getting the Jacobites on the road
• 3. Continue the present arrangement, show Christian love, leave the churches presently with Jacobites to continue be in their control and live peacefully

The leadership of the Orthodox church lacking vision and foresight feels option 2 is the only way forward. In the same tongue as when the priests and bishops preach to their faithful followers to practice Christian values, forgive and forget, love their neighbours and enemy, the spiritual leadership acts contrary, not ready to walk the talk. They are acting against the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Nelson Mandela, the champion of peace ..

The orthodox top clergy remains unfaithful, deceitful and insincere to the believers who look upto them to practice Christian values and be a model to society. The clergy want to fight to the last breath, tooth and nail, forsaking all teachings of Jesus, against their brothers in Christ, the Jacobites.

What a shame for Christianity !! Also what a wasteful use of money donated by the laity for charity which is diverted to pay senior advocates and their paraphernelia. Christian love could have saved this wasteful spend. So many empty stomachs could have been fed, children could have been educated across India. Majority of the laity are enraged and angry at this open defraud engaged by the leadership and the coterie surrounding them.

The wise counsel of former Honourable HC Chief Justice Shri. Benjamin Koshy and former Kerala state Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson IAS (retd.) along with the former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy could have  have been sought to settle this issue once for all amicably. These leaders are asking the orthodox leadership to go for option 1 for lasting peace, but it is falling on deaf ears.

After receiving a good rapping on the knuckles from the SC for challenging the cemetery ordinance promulgated by the state in the SC, with a further threat to rewrite and revise SC orders in the sabha case, the Orthodox leadership is lost in its direction presently.

Our clergy needs to heed to wise counsel ..

The other option available for the unrelenting churches is option 3, leave the implementation to the individual church members, leave it to the wisdom of the local church members to take the final decision.

Two thousand years joint history of the church in Kerala and Thoma Christians, of the indigenous church and joint existence, cannot be wasted or squandered because of the foolhardiness, stubbornness of certain adamant individuals and obstinacy of members of the clergy from both sides.

Lets do positive thinking in the love of Jesus Christ with a forgiving heart and solve this cheap, worthless, stinking issue once for all..

george