A panel in the Ernakulam archdiocese investigating land deals has advocated action against Cardinal George Alencherry under Church and civil law for causing losses to the diocese. For a Catholic Church in India, this is the first such case involving black money. The investigation report has been sent to the Pope.
Ernakulam archdiocese spokesman Fr Paul Karedan admitted the report contained grave charges against Alencherry, a cardinal who is eligible to elect the Pope.
"We have sent the report to Rome via the Apostolic Nuncio (Vatican representative) in Delhi," said Karedan.
The panel also blamed two others for the land transaction.
Alencherry is major the archbishop of the Ernakulam archdiocese and also the head of the Kochi-based Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, that is, the Eastern Catholic Church.
In Dec. 2017, six-member panel, comprising priests and laymen, were appointed to investigate losses suffered by the archdiocese in uncertain land deals since April, 2015.
"The issue is not just related to money, it is more of a moral issue," said a senior priest belonging to Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese.
