By Jessy Joseph
New Delhi, August 8, 2022: Some 60,000 Catholics from 320 parishes of Ernakulam Angamaly Syro-Malabar archdiocese on August 7 attended a massive faith protection rally and convention.
The convention held in Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium sought to ‘’implement the restitution recommended by the Vatican in the controversial land deals involving the archdiocese,’’ P P Jerard, archdiocesan pastoral council secretary, told Matters India.
It also demanded to know the reason for the forcible removal of Archbishop Antony Kariyil, from the post of metropolitan vicar of the archdiocese.
Another demand was to continue to stick to the traditional way of conducting Mass with the priest facing the congregation throughout, Jerard added.
“For the last 60 years, we have been following Holy Mass with the priest facing the people. We will not accept any decision that derails our traditional practice,’’ Jerard asserted.
He said the Catholics in the archdiocese want accountability and transparency in the functioning of the archdiocese.
“We will oppose at any cost the attempts of the Synod to impose its decisions on liturgy,” he added.
A resolution passed at the convention says the archdiocese is the ‘mother’ of the faithful who want the fully congregation-facing Mass in keeping with the spirit of the Second Vatican Council.
“We strongly condemn the ousting of Archbishop Kariyil and the transfer of prelates who stood with us,” the resolution says.
It also condemns the appointment of priests in key positions, who acted against the tradition and value of the Church.
The faithful would not cooperate with the archdiocese if they are kept away from daily administrative matters, the resolution warns.
It also expresses concern that the archdiocese is not heeding Pope Francis’ directive that bishops must walk with the faithful.
The two-hour convention and rally around the stadium saw the faithful holding up placards extending support to Archbishop Kariyil and against the unification of the Mass.
The convention was organized by various organizations in the archdiocese.
The dispute over liturgy in the Syro-Malabar Church seems far from over.
On August 6, the Syro-Malabar Curia issued a seven-page letter that accused Archbishop Kariyil of “challenging the authority of the Church” and “disobeying the Pope’s clear instructions” on implementing the unified Mass.
The “explanatory note” from the curia was in response to Archbishop Kariyil’s six-page letter released August 3 that talked about how he acted in the interests of the archdiocese and the faithful despite “continued pressure from the higher-ups.”
The curia has accused Archbishop Kariyil of twisting a special dispensation — given by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation of Oriental Churches — for certain “special cases” and issuing a circular applying the same to the archdiocese as a whole.
The liturgical dispute took a new turn July 26 when Archbishop Kariyil ’s tendered his resignation to Apostolic Nuncio to India Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli at the residence of the Ernakulam archbishop.
The New Delhi-based nuncio had flown down to Kochi to demand Archbishop Kariyil’s immediate resignation.
The archbishop, according to Church sources, was summoned to nunciature on July 19 and was asked to tender his resignation the following day by Archbishop Girelli.
Archbishop Kariyil, however, sought time on the plea that he wanted to inform Pope Francis that no reason was cited for demanding his resignation.
On July 30 Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur as the apostolic administrator of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese.
Church observers view Archbishop Kariyil’s resignation as a fall out of his inability to convince the priests and laity in the archdiocese to follow the uniform mode of celebrating Mass as mandated by the synod of the Syro-Malabar Church.
The Syro-Malabar Church in August 2021 decided to implement a uniform Mass in all its 35 dioceses in India and overseas in a bid to find a permanent solution to the liturgical dispute and foster unity.
The dispute over the Eucharistic liturgy is decades old. The Synod of Bishops in 1999 ruled that the priest “will face the congregation until the Eucharistic prayer, and then again from communion to the end of the Mass. From Eucharistic prayers until Communion, the priest will face the altar.”
The synod’s formula, seen as a compromise requires priests to face the congregation during the start and concluding parts of the Mass but face the altar during the Eucharistic prayer.
Barring the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, all Syro-Malabar dioceses implemented the synod decision from November 2021.
Archbishop Kariyil, however, could not implement the synod Mass in the wake of opposition from the priests and laity in the archdiocese.
More than 90 percent of the priests and laity in the archdiocese favored the traditional Mass and Archbishop Kariyil supported it as he understood the sentiments of the people.
The Latin liturgy have the Gospels from Matthew today and tomorrow. Matthew 23:13-26. Jesus utters 5 times “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites”. There 5 reasons for the words of Woe. Most of them are connected with liturgical rituals verses genuine life of mercy,love and faithfulness.
This is 100% applicable to Syro Malabar Church. If Jesus comes today to synod of this Church in Kochi, he would have uttered the same Woe to you scribes and Pharisees gathered there to plot against some people. Now they are known as Bishops, Archbishops and Major Archbishop. What a shame! I do not know if these hypocrites are reading the same Gospels as ordinary people read. So many times Jesus tells in the Gospels that you are “Servants”. I washed your feet as a servant. You must wash each other’s feet. Now they are no more washing each others feet, but they are waiting to put down each other. Many of them hate each other, plan against each other for positions of power and comfort and enjoyment. Look at type of the vehicles they use, the best in the market. Whose money. Like the Pharisees and the scribes they grab it from the poor ordinary people. Jesus seems to have called them to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God and invite people to repentance and change of their lives so that the Kingdom of God may come. But they are enjoying while promoting hatred among the peoples. The Bishops and other clergy together have derailed the cause of Jesus, establishing God’s Kingdom.
The recent events in Ernakulam are really shameful. A Bishop is forcefully removed due to fear and hatred in the name of uniformity of liturgy, that is turning to the wall. With this hatred in their hearts they will offer Eucharist for the people, preaching them about love. The Eucharist will not not be valid at least for them, because how can they eat the body and blood of Jesus keeping the hatred in their hearts.
LET US GO AND REPENT, CHANGE OUR LIVES SO THAT JESUS WILL NOT CALL US HYPOCRITES AND UTTER WORDS OF WOE TO YOU.
MAY GOD BLESS US
Jesus proclaimed the good news of the Kingdom of God asking disciples to invite people to repent and believe and change their way of lives so that there will be God’s Kingdom coming. Instead of proclaiming the good news, these so called Bishops are busy fighting against each other in the name of traditional liturgies. It is a shame. After wasting the feet of the disciples, Jesus just took bread and wine and told to eat and drink because they are my body and blood. He told them do this in memory of me whenever you gather together.
The clergy has made it object of devotion to make money. Making huge churches they became masters of it. See the way the cardinals, Bishops, priests live. Do you think they are following the way of Jesus. The believers are to be re-educated based on the Gospels so the bluff of the clergy will be exposed. Without loving one another how can this clergy celebrate Eucharist?
Pavar
.Opinions may differ. We should not approach this problem like a political matter. I favour the priest facing the faithful. But I should abide by the decision of the authority. I must know that such an issue cannot be solved by rebellion or name calling. There is no involvement of “ faith or morals” Is it right to believe that we have the right to decide what should be vestments for Mass, what should be talked in the homily, what prayers should be said etc. The method of seeking redressal or reforms must be fully in Christian way of humility and love and understanding.
Let the Authorities concerned understand the pulse of the people and initiate dialogue to amicably settle the issue rather than suppression .
If all except ernakulam following the Vatican ordinance, what it’s with Jerard and a few fanatic priests. After all liturgy is only a means not the end. No one needs to be sub servient while implimenting something that can bring about unity. In fact it’s only the ego of a a few. As a matter of fact, sending across a wave of Resilient attitude among the faithful will not help them to grow in Christian attitude..
The Pope undertook a penitential pilgrimage in Canada in spite of his ill health and old age. He set up a new trend asking apology from the indigenous people in public platforms.
On the contrary, the church authorities in India – Nuncio, CBCI/CCBI – are openly siding with the criminal bishops William and Franco. Without any shame, the Nuncio has forced Antony Kariyil to resign, all in the name of liturgy!!!
How could he be so BLIND in not seeing the criminal activities of the above bishops in spite of so many complaints and open letters sent to him? He has turned DEAF ears to those who have spoken to him against these criminal bishops.
The ultimate culprits are the Nuncio and the office-bearers of CBCI and CCBI. They must be sacked or made to resign by the Vatican without any mercy.
The total participation was less than four thousand., including passive onlookers. The seating capacity of the temporary structure was 3400. When you report a news you should be objective.
Has the time come for a new catholic rite that is more inclusive and less ‘monarchist’??? Many young people (and the young at heart) across the Syro-Malabar dioceses including some of the local congregations might be in favour of such as change. And, Kariyil would be a good person to lead this.
The main demand is for transparency and accountability in the functioning of the archdiocese.
The demand includes initiation of steps to recoup through restitution the huge sums of money that the archdiocese allegedly lost through the controversial land deal. Five enquiry committee reports arrived at the same conclusion that there were faults in the sale of the archdiocese lands.
The Indian hierarchy has to climb down from its high horse and get the smell of the sheep, else it is sowing the seeds of another French Revolution that had targeted the hierarchy together with the monarchy.
FANTASTIC. CONGRATULATIONS to the organizers of this huge rally. This is Synodality in action.