Kochi: Row over the implementation of the unified format of Holy Mass in the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese took an ugly turn on Friday as two groups of laity activists clashed with each other on the premises of the Ernakulam Bishop’s House.
The scuffle happened soon after priests held a meeting with the metropolitan vicar of the archdiocese, Mar Antony Kariyil, and declared that they would not follow the directive of Cardinal George Alencherry to implement the unified mass from Sunday onwards. Laity activists supporting the official leadership of the Syro-Malabar Church said that one of their members was beaten up by the faction supporting the dissident priests and that they were going to file a police case against them.
However, the faction of laity activists supporting the priests said that members of the other faction entered the compound of the bishop’s house and made provocative comments leading to the scuffle. Fr Mathew Kilukkan, the public relations officer of the archdiocese, issued a statement saying that the old format of mass would continue in the archdiocese.
“Mar Kariyil revealed in the meeting of priests held in the bishop’s house on Friday that he was compelled to sign the circular which was issued on Thursday and that it was prepared in advance by the curia at Mount St Thomas (the headquarters of the Syro-Malabar Church). The bishop said in the meeting that the instruction which was given to him was to send his letterhead, seal, and digital signature and to not discuss the matter even with his own curia. Hence, it is clear that the bishop signed the circular due to the pressure. Such a circular signed under pressure is not canonically valid,” said the statement.
Meanwhile, Alencherry issued a clarification note on Friday night stating that the circular issued on Thursday was binding. The cardinal pointed out that the Dicastery of Oriental Churches have specified the same in a letter issued in the aftermath of the pontifical letter.
“The major archbishop will undoubtedly want to send out a circular in the light of the papal letter of March 25, which should be considered the final decision in the matter,” the cardinal said in the note, quoting from the letter.
Sunny Palarivattom, a laity activist supporting the official faction of the Church, said that the other group was acting against Christian values.
Thursday’s circular had said that the new format of Holy Mass approved by the synod will come into force in the archdiocese from the Palm Sunday. Both Mar Kariyil and cardinal Alencherry would together conduct the mass in the new format in the Ernakulam Cathedral Basilica on Sunday, it added.
The scuffle happened soon after priests held a meeting with the metropolitan vicar of the archdiocese, Mar Antony Kariyil, and declared that they would not follow the directive of Cardinal George Alencherry to implement the unified mass from Sunday onwards. Laity activists supporting the official leadership of the Syro-Malabar Church said that one of their members was beaten up by the faction supporting the dissident priests and that they were going to file a police case against them.
However, the faction of laity activists supporting the priests said that members of the other faction entered the compound of the bishop’s house and made provocative comments leading to the scuffle. Fr Mathew Kilukkan, the public relations officer of the archdiocese, issued a statement saying that the old format of mass would continue in the archdiocese.
“Mar Kariyil revealed in the meeting of priests held in the bishop’s house on Friday that he was compelled to sign the circular which was issued on Thursday and that it was prepared in advance by the curia at Mount St Thomas (the headquarters of the Syro-Malabar Church). The bishop said in the meeting that the instruction which was given to him was to send his letterhead, seal, and digital signature and to not discuss the matter even with his own curia. Hence, it is clear that the bishop signed the circular due to the pressure. Such a circular signed under pressure is not canonically valid,” said the statement.
Meanwhile, Alencherry issued a clarification note on Friday night stating that the circular issued on Thursday was binding. The cardinal pointed out that the Dicastery of Oriental Churches have specified the same in a letter issued in the aftermath of the pontifical letter.
“The major archbishop will undoubtedly want to send out a circular in the light of the papal letter of March 25, which should be considered the final decision in the matter,” the cardinal said in the note, quoting from the letter.
Sunny Palarivattom, a laity activist supporting the official faction of the Church, said that the other group was acting against Christian values.
Thursday’s circular had said that the new format of Holy Mass approved by the synod will come into force in the archdiocese from the Palm Sunday. Both Mar Kariyil and cardinal Alencherry would together conduct the mass in the new format in the Ernakulam Cathedral Basilica on Sunday, it added.
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