By Thomas Scaria

Kochi, Aug 26, 2023: Father Antony Poothavelil was recently installed as the vicar of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese’s St Mary’s Basilica Cathedral that was closed for more than 260 days because of the ongoing liturgy dispute.

The 69-year-old priest was appointed the vicar as the main church of the archdiocese on December 16, 2022, by its apostolic administrator, Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur.

However, the majority of the cathedral parishioners opposed him because of his support for the uniform mode of celebrating Mass. He was transferred in February this year to St Mary’s Forane Church, Moozhikulam, as vicar. He faced parishioners’ opposition there too.

Jesuit Archbishop Cyril Vasil, who came to Kerala to resolve the liturgy dispute, installed Father Poothavelil as the cathedral vicar with police help on August 15 as hundreds of parishioners protested.

Father Poothavelil, who was ordained a priest on December 18, 1980, by Cardinal Joseph Parecattil, spoke to Matters India on August 24 in his room inside the cathedral complex.

Matters India: Liturgical crisis in Ernakulam- Angamaly Archdiocese has continued for almost 50 years. How has it affected the Church?

Father Poothavelil: It has affected almost all areas of Church life in the archdiocese. It has also set a bad image for the Syro-Malabar Church as a whole. Earlier we used to laugh at the other Churches for their internal fights, but now, everyone is laughing at us. The faith life is shallow. Young people now question the Church and refuse to attend Mass. Some have become atheists and some have migrated to other cities or countries.

The Basilica was closed for eight months; How has it affected the parishioners?

A few of them have joined the dissident priests to fight the synod Mass. They have set up tents in front of the cathedral and raise anti-synod slogans. Some have chosen to attend Mass in neighbouring Latin churches. Not only the parish, even the families are split into two groups. One group stand with the Synod and the Pope and the other with dissident priests. Their children are confused too.

How about the catechism and faith formation of children in the parish?

We have asked them to attend catechism classes at the CMC [Congregation of Mother Carmel] convent as many of them are students of a school there. I was told their mother superior has asked the teachers not to discuss liturgy conflict with children. Classes do take place, but I was told with less attendance.

Has the conflict affected vocation to priesthood?

Surely it has affected vocations. Even those students in the minor and major seminaries are misled. It is unfortunate that four priests in the minor seminary were asked to leave the seminary for misleading seminarians and obstructing the rector who wanted to celebrate synod Mass. They are now shifted to the priest home. These developments affect the vocations. How can we expect young people to join the priesthood to protest uniformed Mass, its Synod and the papal authority. It is better they don’t become priests if they are to join a dissident movement.

[Editor’s Note: The dissidents earlier said they have prevailed upon the four priests stay in the seminary.]

You have faced several challenges as the vicar of the basilica. Can you explain your journey?

As an administrator, I had to face several boycotts and rejection. I was not even allowed to enter the basilica. I stayed at the renewal center and tried to manage administration from here. Neither the parish priest, nor the assistants cooperated with me. As usual, we had to prepare for the Christmas Mass and I tried to celebrate Mass in the Synod approved way on December 23 and 24 [2022], but some priests from other parishes camped here and never allowed me. They were celebrating Mass continuously without interruption, using the altar as a battle field and Mass as a weapon. It was a very painful moment for me. The Christmas Mass never happened and the basilica was closed thereafter.

Meanwhile, you were appointed the parish priest of St Mary’s Forane Church, Moozhikulam parish.

Even there, I had to face opposition. The priests and some parishioners never allowed me to take charge there. I had to come back. Since I had filed a case against the dissident priests who manhandled me in the basilica. The case is in the Kerala High Court. So, I was still the administrator of the basilica. Recently, Apostolic Administrator Archbishop Andrews Thazhath appointed me as the vicar of the basilica. Police escorted me to take charge amid protests.

What about the controversy that you had forcefully taken away the Sacred Hosts from the basilica tabernacle in a red bag. You opponents said it was done for devil worship. Can you explain what happened?

It was true that I have taken away the Hosts from the tabernacle as an administrator. It was done at the direction of the archbishop, since the Host was not fit for consumption and lost its divinity. A consecrated Host becomes the flesh of Jesus only as long as it is consumable. The Cathedral was closed for several months and the host had to be removed and dissolved in water or burnt. I have reported to archbishop immediately after procuring and destroying the host. But the opponents took the CCTV footage and spread the lie that I had stolen the host from the basilica.

How did you coordinate the mission of papal delegate?

Even the Papal delegate had to face the wrath of protesting priests and people. He entered the church with full police protection. They did not accept him. But he came with a mission and he completed it and went back.

He never bothered to initiate dialogue with the dissidents or listen to them. Why?

His mandate was different. His mission was to ensure the implementation of the Synod approved uniformed Mass. Public may think he failed in his mission and majority of priests and people did not obey his order. This is disobeying the Vatican and the Pope. This is against the Catholic tradition. The consequence for disobedience could be harsh.

Do you think excommunication or suspension of hundreds of priests would solve the problem?

This may aggravate the problem. But that does not justify or minimize the consequences. If they think Church liturgy can be changed with a majority opinion or demand, it is not the Church way. The Church has been hierarchical and not a democratic movement. If they have disobeyed the Pope, they will face some corrective action.

The Church teaches forgiveness and communion, but the hierarchy uses power and arrogance. Do you agree?

No. The Church is still human and fraternal. Here, the priests who are ordained to lead the faithful are the errant. They misused their role and misled the congregation. It is not the entire community that is protesting the synod approved uniform Mass. Only some are the trouble makers. If all other dioceses can accept it, why can’t Ernakulam-Angamaly do so? The whole movement is led by priests. I can only pray that the priests accept the Synod proposal and the papal instruction, and peace return to this archdiocese.