A. No. As per the 1934 constitution, the Catholicos is appointed through an election. More than 4,000 voters including priests and laymen take part in the election. My election has been as per the constitution.
Q. The SC order in the church dispute is yet to be implemented, and the government is still insisting on a compromise. Is there any scope for that?
A. No. We will not encourage any talks that will dilute the SC verdict. The Jacobites and the government want to hold discussions on those issues which were settled by the SC. These include the validity of the 1934 constitution, powers of the Patriarch of Antioch, issues related to the governance of the churches and so on. Their only aim is to delay the execution of the court order. First, they must obey the SC order, then we can talk.
Q. What do you think the government should be doing, as forcibly implementing the order could lead to violence?
A.The Church does not intend to cause any bloodshed. The government and the police have implemented the order at the Piravom church without even a blow being struck. The government knows how to implement the order. It is only that they are not determined to do it. It is a fact that this government is intent on keeping the dispute alive. The government can easily ensure peace, but the problem here is that it is siding with those questioning the SC verdict.
Q. Is there any truth in the allegation that members of the Jacobite faction are being denied burials in the churches taken over by the Orthodox faction?
A. They are making up these cases to gain sympathy from people and other religious institutions. We will not stop any burial services. Destroying and taking away assets of churches, which are considered divine, cannot be accepted. The faithful will not tolerate such stunts.
Q. What are you planning to do next?
A. We are not ready to drag our faithful to the streets. We will move legally if the government doesn’t implement the order. We have already filed a contempt of court petition in the High Court.