Orthodox church head under pressure to take strict punitive action against Fr Mathews Vazhakunnam

PATHANAMTHITTA: It is reported that the Orthodox Church head is under strong pressure to take strict action against Father Mathews Vazhakunnam, who used derogatory comments against the Nilackal diocese. Many officials from the diocese have already warned Catholica Bawa about how the integrity of the church will be affected if Father Mathews is allowed to go scot-free.

Meanwhile, Father Mathews Vazhakunnam is trying to alleviate the issue by meeting the head of the Orthodox Church to give his side of the explanation of the matter. People within the orthodox community have expressed their disdain over the derogatory comments hurled by Father Mathews Vazhakunnam at metropolitan Joshua Mar Nicodimos.

With the entry of Fr. Shaiju Kurien to the BJP, the political infighting among the clergy has also intensified. The church fears erosion in discipline and unity of the church if such happenings are allowed a free run. It is under this situation that most of the priests within the Orthodox Diocese recommended strict punitive action against Father Mathews Vazhakunnam. On the other side, Fr Mathews is employing tactics to beseech church leadership to avoid strong punitive actions against him.