Indian Church seeks to end smears over nun's murder case Syro-Malabar bishops are appalled by claims they created roadblocks with their political and economic clout UCA News reporter Updated: January 17, 2021 12:18 PM GMT Trending Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the Eastern-rite Syro-Malabar Catholic Church based in Kerala, inaugurates its virtual synod on Jan. 11, lighting a candle at its headquarters at Mount St Thomas, Kakkanad, Ernakulum district. The Eastern-rite Syro-Malabar Church has called for an end to anti-Church campaigns that have increased since a priest and a nun were convicted in a 29-year-old murder case involving a junior nun. Its bishops' synod said in a statement that the campaigns even hid the fact that a federal investigation started following church officials' request to end the mystery over the death of Sister Abhaya in 1992.