KOCHI: Syro-Malabar Church has asked police to exclude names of Bishop Jacob Manathodath and Fr Paul Thelakkat from the controversial FIR that was registered by police based on a complaint by Syro-Malabar Church over the alleged fake documents used to defame Cardinal George Alencherry . A letter written by Cardinal Alencherry addressing major superiors and provincials of the church, accessed by TOI, reads: “We (the Church) got assurance that a new FIR will be filed against the unknown persons who fabricated the forged documents.”“In the written complaint filed by Fr Joby, there was no allegation against bishop Manathodath or Fr Thelakkat. The only statement was that the documents were handed over to bishop Manathodath by Fr Thelakkat and Manathodath gave them to the major archbishop who placed the matter before the synod,” states the letter.“Action was sought only against those who forged the documents. However, while registering the FIR, police included the names of bishop Manathodath and Fr Thelakkat. We never expected that their names would be included in the FIR. We do not know how this happened. We have already taken necessary steps to rectify the mistake in the FIR...,” reads the letter.Laity organization Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency (AMT) alleged that the Cardinal is giving lame excuses now as the issue has sparked a controversy. “The FIR was lodged a month ago and now when it became a controversy, they want to correct it. If it was a mistake, why wasn’t it corrected earlier,” said AMT convener Reji Kanjookkaran.The widespread protest within Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese continued with some parishes passing resolutions against the FIR. Senior priests said that governing committees of individual parishes – which fall under the archdiocese – are planning to officially condemn the naming of the apostolic administrator in the FIR in their resolutions. Kadavanthra St Joseph Church family union already passed a resolution after a meeting on Thursday. “The meeting demanded action against Fr Joby Maprakavil who acted in an unjust manner to tarnish the image of the senior members of the church,” said Antony Thottunkathara, secretary of the family union.

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