Kerala's Jacobite Church orders probe into bishop's claims

Kochi, June 25 (IANS) The Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church Monday asked its bishop Kuriakose Mar Clemis to keep away from all duties and responsibilities as a bishop and formed an eight-member committee to inquire into the allegations that he has raised.

This decision was announced by the church spokesperson soon after a meeting of the church synod, held near here at their headquarters.

"The committee will include three bishops, two priests and three from the laity," said the spokesperson to reporters.

Mar Clemis shocked the faithful when he went public on TV channels Sunday, claiming that his life was in danger and a section of the church was against him and trotting out stories that were largely believed to be baseless.

He also went to the extent of saying that he had paid Rs.3 crore to church higher-ups to become a bishop three years back.

He made this statement after he was last week asked to hand over the responsibilities of the Idukki dioceses of the church where he was serving as bishop.