Kochi: Kerala priests who were on a hunger strike protesting cardinal Mar George Alencherry’s reinstatement to the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese has been called off. The priests called off the strike after holding talks with members in the permanent synod.

Bishops in the permanent synod, representatives of Mount St Thomas church and nine other priests took part in the meeting. Among five, the synod accepted to meet four of the priests’ demands.

The priests said the strike was a success after calling it off. They said they were ending the hunger strike and prayers in the wake of the assurance obtained to meet the demands proposed before the synod.

Also read: Kerala priests stage hunger strike to protest cardinal George Alencherry’s reinstatement

Alencherry had secured full powers of major archbishop of the archdiocese after the Vatican directed bishop Jacob Manathodath to return to the Palakkad Diocese to carry out his pastoral duties.
 

Earlier Alencherry was removed from the post after allegations of his involvement in a land scam case surfaced.  Along with Alencherry, three other priests also were arraigned in the case initiated by the local court in Kochi, Kerala.