Church to Raise One Billion Rupees for Charity

September 27, 2011: The Syro-Malankara Church’s first major archiepiscopal assembly has pledged to raise a whopping one billion rupees (US$20.15 million) for charity. The ambitious fund-raising effort was endorsed Sept 25 at the end of a two-day episcopal synod in Pattom in Kerala’s capital city Thiruvananthapuram.
“Some 175 members from all over the world deliberated on strategies to make the Church more vibrant and spiritually strong,” Catholicos and Major Archbishop Baselios Mar Cleemis said. The 81-year-old Church is planning to raise the huge sum to provide homes for homeless people no matter what their religion, he said.
It was also decided to work out a plan of action that ensures spiritual renewal of the faithful and active participation of Church members in nation building, the Catholicos said. Voicing concern over corruption in public life, he said “the assembly had also decided to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the governance of Church institutions.
According to Father Wilson Thattarathundil, chairman of media relations of the assembly, the September 21-23 gathering was an occasion to analyze the “strengths and weaknesses of the Church and its people.”
“The assembly appealed to the faithful to follow a simple life. Awareness campaigns against alcoholism, drug abuse and abortion and about promoting pro-life activities will also be conducted. We have also recommended a plan to promote environmentally friendly technologies in our institutions,” Fr Wilson said. Diocesan assemblies have also demanded more say in Church affairs, he said.
The Syro-Malankara Church was founded in 1930 after it broke away from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and entered into communion with Rome. The Church has 500,000 faithful all over the world and runs 20 colleges, 525 schools, 18 hospitals and other institutions in eight dioceses and an exarchate in the US.