Basilica issue: Kerala High Court directs State govt. to file affidavit

The Kerala High Court has directed the State government to file an affidavit explaining whether any “believers” are residing inside the St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica here, and whether the doors of the church have been locked, restricting the entry of priests and the faithful.

A Bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas issued the order while hearing a petition filed by Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany, vicar of the Major Archbishop of the Ernakulam–Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church. In the plea, the archbishop alleged that a ‘small fraction’ of people who were opposed to temporary relaxations in the liturgy for the mode of offering the Holy Mass had ‘trespassed’ into the basilica and began ‘staying’ there, while restricting the entry of others.

He sought a direction to the police to prevent the alleged criminal trespass by those who were occupying the basilica, under the Police Act. The police said they could do little, unless the District Collector or the court issued a direction, he added in his plea.

The court orally questioned the role of persons allegedly staying inside the church and its doors. Although they can come and pray, they cannot live there. The church is not meant for stay, the court observed. Irrespective of whether one is a member of the laity or the clergy, no one has the right to take law into their own hands and prevent others from accessing the church. Apart from pastoral duties, the bishop has rights, it added.