By Jose Kavi
New Delhi, Aug 23, 2023: Jesuit Archbishop Cyril Vasil, the papal representative appointed to resolve the liturgy dispute in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, has left for Rome after completing the first phase of his mission, says a press statement.
The delegate will apprise Pope Francis and the Pontifical Congregations for the Oriental Rites of his findings on the controversy, adds the August 23 press release issued by the Church’s public relations officer, Vincentian Father Antony Vadakkekara.
“He will continue to be the Pontifical Delegate of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly. He has informed that he will come again as part of the mission and that the mechanisms for follow-up have been formed in the archdiocese,” the press release explained.
Archbishop Vasil has left India leaving the fate of more than 400 priests uncertain for defying his ultimatum to offer Masses on August 20 in the synod-approved mode in all parishes and institutions in the archdiocese.
The August 17 order that threatened excommunication for disobedience further infuriated the dissident priests and lay people who burned copies of the delegate’s order the same evening.
Only six of the 328 parishes celebrated Sunday Masses in the synod mode on August 20.
On August 21, Archbishop Vasil addressed the opening of the Syro-Malabar Church’s 31st Synod at Mount St. Thomas, the Oriental rite’s headquarters in Kakkanad, a suburb of Kochi, Kerala. He said the indiscipline shown by the dissidents in the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese was dangerous for the Church.
Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the Syro-Malabar Church who opened the synod, said the protests against the pontifical delegate had deeply saddened the Church and remined his people that Church’s strength lies in unity.
The cardinal also termed as unjustifiable and un-Christian the dissidents raising inflammatory slogans against the delegate and creating a tense situation at the archdiocese’s main church, St Mary’s Basilica Cathedral. the cathedral.
The dissidents on August 14 tried to prevent Archbishop Vasil from entering the cathedral but managed to enter it with the help of a large number of police.
The pontifical delegate came to Kerala on August 4 to resolve the decades-old dispute over the mode of celebrating Mass in the archdiocese. However, he met with stiff opposition when he announced that his mission was to implement the synod approved mode in the archdiocese.
Most priests and Catholics have demanded that only the traditional way of celebrating Mass should be allowed in the archdiocese where the priest faces the congregation throughout. In the synod-approved Mass, the celebrant faces the altar during the Eucharistic prayer.
At present we are not having enough priests.If 400 priests are punished what happens to our religion.Especially when the trend in India is trying to change into a Hindu nation.It is felt the Pope should consider and let the old way of mass continue.
Is it worth to offend the feelings of 400 priests for uniformity in rubrics? If sizeable number of faithful do not want it why to force them? If they don’t accept majority decision, can we push them so hard that affect the unity of the Church.
Jesus did not obey the authorities who asked him not to heal the sick on sabbath day. When Portuguese armies raided Jesuit reductions in Latin America, to enslave indigenous people, the Church decreed Jesuits to stand down and not to intervene. But, Jesuits did not obey. They organised indigenous people against slavery and fought the Portuguese army. This was one of the reasons why Jesuit religious order was suppressed by the Catholic Church in 1773. I do not know if the following is a historic fact.I have read this in the biography of St. Padre Pio. Padre Pio collected money from people to construct a hospital. When the authorities asked him to divert this money for some other purpose, he did not obey. He had to suffer the consequences. During the second world war, there was an incident in former Yugoslavia, where an Arch-Bishop decreed Nuns to help in a Nazi concentration camp. Out of obedience, the Nuns complied and became part of genocide of Jews, Gypsies, differently abled people. Blind Obedience is a NOT a Christian virtue. Standing up against injustice is a Christian duty and facing the consequences is part of prophetic mission.
The Priest facing the people is the latin form of the Mass which was brought in only a few years back, the ancient rite is the priest facing the East (alter) that is slowly being universally ,re introduced in the form of half time facing the alter & half time facing the people which is consistent with the fact that Jesus is the MEDIATOR between man & God, No way will the Pontiff allow the rebels to have their way & he has allready informed the Pontifical delegate about his stand, immaterial how much the rebels dis obey & the medias speak for them, them who are only intreasted in creating sensationalism, their fodder,
He has allready appraised the Poniff of the situation & was told to stick to the stand where the Priest faces the alter half way & the people the other half, during the Holy Mass which is consistant with the fact that Jesus is the MEDIATOR between man & God,
Synod is not standing or listening people and priests who are front runners worked so closely with each family and people . When they raise voice against correction, corruption and evading justice . Bishop’s named them as Rebels . Pepal delegates and synod is unfair and not working for synodality. Pope Francis we need you and your intervention is highly appreciated.
I feel like Roman Catholics all over the world as one United flock of our Lord, in line with, Vatican 2 high Council, the Holy Mass should be offered facing the faithful all through. Secondly, dis respecting Arch Bishop Cyril Vasil the Papal spl representative who tried to bring unity among the disagreeing priests is not acceptable. I hope and pray for unity in the Church in Kerala.
There are over half a million Syrian Catholics bringing to the Syro Malabar Catholic rite in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese. The overwhelming majority desire, along with their entire community of priests (450 out of 465) to continue with their traditional people facing Mass that has been offered in their Archdiocese since the Catholic Church adopted the people facing Mass after the Vatican Councils. The Pope himself and nearly 96% of the World’s Catholics under him practice this form of offering the Holy Mass, ie the priests offers mass facing the faithful.
There is no questioning of a word even in the text of the Syro-Malabar Mass approved by the Holy Father, the Pope. The faithful only seek an exemption from the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church to grant them the permission to continue following their traditional people facing (by the priest) practice they have had for the past 60 years after the last Vatican Council. Number wise the faithful of this Archdiocese form around 10% of the faithful of the Syro Malabar Church that is based primarily in Kerala, India.
Sadly the Synod, consisting only of bishops, treats this as sacrilege and even threatens to excommunicate priests over this reasonable request, which in no way affects any tenets of faith, but is only a matter of ritual or rubric to use canon law of the Church.
Unfortunately, it has become a matter of prestige and ego to the Bishops who feel threatened when their absolute power is questioned. So much so that they forget to ask the simple question – would Jesus be offended if you allow some of his people under you to follow a slightly different ritual practice while saying the same exact prayers. And that practice is adopted by 96% of the world’s catholics owing allegiance to the Pope. The faithful hoped that a meaningful dialogue would be initiated by Archbishop Cyril Vasil who recently came to India as the Pope’s delegate to resolve the issue. Unfortunately the Papal delegate destroyed all grounds for a meaningful dialogue in the true spirit of Synodality, frequently and very powerfully espoused by Pope Francis, when he declared on arrival that he had come to ensure obedience and implementation of the unified Mass format the bishops seek to impose. He even threatened the priests with severe disciplinary actions if they did not act as he ordered. The faithful of the Archdiocese were shattered by this blatant partisanship by a delegate who they thought was sent by the Pope and hence had come unbiased to hear their cries too and to explore avenues for a fair resolution.
One can now only hope the Holy Father the Pope, in his personal wisdom, will counsel the Synod (which claims allegiance and obedience to him) to act charitably in true Christian spirit in the matter and resolve the bitter conflict that has affected the Syro-Malabar Church for nearly five decades.
Hats off to the rebel priests who showed the pontifical delegate his true place. Very inspiring rebellion this and model for all those priests who quietly bear the injustice heaped by various Bishop and Archbishops. We Catholic activists in Pune salute you all and offer full support. I advice the lay in Ernakulam diocese to file an application with concerned about Charity Commissioner to stop all remittances to Pope Francis as we have done in Pune.. The transfer of any amount to Vatican through Nuncio is illegal and serious seditious criminal offence violating FEMA , IPC , Trust and IT acts.
Dominic Lobo, Pune
9371032996
dominiclobo02@gmail
Is it worth to offend the feelings of 400 priests for uniformity in rubrics? If sizeable number of faithful do not want it why to force them? If they don’t accept majority decision, can we push them so hard that affect the unity of the Church.
Canon law 26 on customs prevailing for more than 30 years is very clear.
The papal delegate cannot achieve anything just by threatening.
Should not matter which way you face so long as the prayer is sincere.
Everything else is just froth
It is unfortunate that people at the helm of affairs leave the essence of Christ’s teachings and clinging to certain type of rituals, as though rituals are going to make them righteous and holy.
the pontifical delegate Archbishop Vasil should have had a better approach to deal with the liturgy dispute . The priest and the lay people coming under the Archdiocese of Ernakulam _ Angmaddi should not disgrace the catholic But be respectful and obedient to the authority
Vatican II bow down to many evil and spoiled the true spirit of the Roman catholic Church.
What the synod approves should be followed,otherwise what is the use of the synod.If the synod wants to change its decision,it can,but what it rules should be followed.