Pics: Umesh Marpalli, Ivan Mascarenhas
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi

Udupi, Oct 14: For going against the irregularities taking place in the institutions under OSC educational society, a part of St Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Cathedral, the priest of SMS Church was demoted and transferred to another place. As a result, hundreds of parishioners protested in front of the church against this move.

The protestors alleged that Fr Lawrence D’Souza, vicar general of St Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Cathedral and president of OSC Educational Society, had been demoted and transferred to Kurady Church as assistant parish priest. They said that the demotion was facilitated by managing committee secretary and other members.

Managing committee secretary Joseph Suvaris, with the support of several people, is into irregular activities which was condemned by Fr D’Souza as a result of which he was demoted.

Generally, the president’s term in OSC Educational Society is three years but Fr D’Souza was demoted and transferred in one year and three months. The protestors also said that people who raised their voice against the secretary in the meetings were beaten up.

Believing the complaint made by the secretary against the parish priest, Fr Baselios Marthoma Paulose II passed the demotion order which should be taken back and a detailed investigation should be conducted against the irregularities, demanded the protestors.

The protest was staged under the leadership of OSC society managing committee’s former secretary Thomas D’Souza in which present committee member Suloman D’Souza and hundreds of people were present.