By Jose Kavi

New Delhi, Aug 31, 2023: The Media Commission of the Syro-Malabar Church on August 31 deplored what it says misleading reports the the apostolic administrator of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese is trying to subvert discussions on the liturgy dispute.

“Allegations that the apostolic administrator, who is not involved in the discussions in any way, is sabotaging the discussions are completely baseless,” asserts a commission press statement signed by its secretary Vincentian Father Antony Vadakkekara.

It regrets that the reports appeared in a leading Malayalam newspaper and social media when a nine-bishop special committee appointed by the Syro-Malabar synod discussed resolution to the dispute.

“Such news by those wanting to sabotage the efforts to solve the problem through talks is highly condemnable,” the commission adds.

The statement requests those spreading “such misleading news should withdraw from it” and urges the Catholics and the general public to become vigilant against such fake news.

Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur has been the apostolic administrator of the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly since July 30, 2022. After he failed to implement the synod Mass in the archdiocese, the Vatican on August 4 sent Jesuit Archbishop Cyril Vasil as the pontifical delegate with the same mandate.

The synod met after Archbishop Vasil returned to the Vatican. His 18-day stay in India has apparently exacerbated the dispute.

The dissident priests and Catholics in the archdiocese have hardened their stand on celebrating Mass with the priest facing the congregation that they have followed for the past five decades.

On the other hand, the synod seems adamant in implementing the unified Mass where the priest faces the altar, with his back to the congregation, during the Eucharistic prayer, the main part.

The third session of the synod’s 31 meeting, held August 21-26 at Kochi, said it was willing to continue the discussions with the members of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese.

However, it gave “precise guidelines” to the bishop-committee to help it implement the unified mode it decided in August 2021, approved by the Congregation for Oriental Churches and exhorted by the Pope.

The synod says since Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese is under the apostolic administrator and a pontifical delegate, any proposal to resolve the issue can only be implemented with the Pope’s approval,

It wants the priests of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese to be prepared to follow the Pope’s letter of March 25, 2022, regarding the unified mode’s implementation.

For this, it appointed the bishops’ committee led by Bishop Bosco Puthur, currently the curia bishop of the Syro-Malabar Church.

Bishop Puthur is assisted by Archbishops Mathew Mulakkat of Kottayam, Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry, Kuriakose Bharanikulangara of Faridabad, and Bishop Sebastian Adayanthrath of Manda, George Madathikandathil of Kothamangalam, Carmelite Jose Chitooparampil of Rajkot, Ephrem Nariculam of Chanda and Jose Puthenveettil, auxiliary of Faridabad.

The media commission’s August 24 statement points out that five members of the committee, all natives of Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, would initiate the dialogue.

The synod also proposed seven suggestions to implement the unified Mass.

It reiterated that any redressal can only be implemented only with the approval of the Pope through the papal delegate as the archdiocese is currently under him as well as the apostolic administrator.

The synod wants the unified liturgy to be implemented in a gradual process, starting with the cathedral basilica that had remained closed for 260 days, training centers, monastic houses and pilgrimage centers.

The synod says parishes should obtain a canonical dispensation, if they want a specific time to prepare their faithful to adopt the uniform liturgy.

It says nobody should not block priests visiting the archdiocese or those within it from celebrating Mass in the unified method.

Similarly, bishops visiting parishes in the archbishop should not face hassles and arrangements should be made to help them celebrate Mass in the synod way.

The synod insists that parishes and institutions in the archdiocese should resume prayers for the Pope, the Syro-Malabar Major Archbishop and the apostolic administrator during the Mass.

The synod warns the Ernakulam-Angamaly priest that refusing the obedience demanded by the Pope through the pontifical delegate “will lead to painful steps.”

Earlier, the pontifical delegate had threatened excommunication for the priests if they failed to celebrate the synod Mass on August 20, a Sunday. However, only six of the archdiocese’s 328 parishes followed his order.

The synod urges the priests and faithful of the archdiocese to “forget personal or regional differences and move forward with one mind. We pray that the altar of our Lord Jesus Christ, who unites all things, may be the source of our fellowship. We entrust you to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to the Immaculate Heart of Our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to the intercession of our Father St Thomas the Apostle.”