NEW DELHI (UCAN) -- A senior bishop of the Syro-Malabar Church (SMC) says Catholics of his Oriental rite have "lost all faith and hope" of getting justice from Vatican offices.
"Our Church ... (has) patiently waited for justice from the Holy See for the last 42 years, after the Second Vatican Council," Bishop Gregory Karotemprel of Rajkot told a theological seminar in New Delhi.
The Nov. 14-15 seminar titled "Ecclesial mission of Syro-Malabar Church" addressed various issues including the Church's demand for jurisdiction outside Kerala, the southern Indian state where it is based.
Bishop Karotemprel says his Church has appealed to the Vatican several times for nationwide jurisdiction, especially after it was made sui juris (self governing) 15 years ago.
"But to our great disgust and agony, not even a single line of reply, either positive or negative, was received by the Bishops' Synod," noted the 75-year-old Carmelite of Mary Immaculate prelate, who monitored pastoral care for SMC migrants until a year ago.
The synod, the Church's highest authority, has the power to create dioceses and appoint bishops, in consultation with the pope, but only in Kerala.
The Vatican's silence, Bishop Karotemprel says, creates "an abominable situation" with repercussions such as questioning the credibility of the Holy See.
He accused some Latin-rite bishops of influencing Vatican congregations and the Apostolic Nunciature in New Delhi to block the SMC's "just" right to India-wide jurisdiction.
Bishop Karotemprel says SMC Catholics can no longer tolerate Latin bishops' "ecclesiastical colonization of India" and have "lost all faith and hope" that the Vatican and the nunciature will "ever do justice to their cause." He points out Latin prelates head the important Vatican positions and their people fill other offices in the Vatican congregations.
Nonetheless, he maintains the Vatican alone can find "an equitable and just solution" to the "insoluble disputes" between India's Latin and SMC Churches.
The SMC prelate says his people also wonder whether the Vatican's "culpable silence" requires "another law to implement what is right and just."
In his analysis, "a negative written reply" from the Vatican would negate its own teachings, while a positive reply would "invite very strong opposition" from the Latin Church. Such "games" need "a final whistle," he added.
Bishop Karotemprel regrets the Vatican's new demand that two-thirds of Latin-rite bishops in India should agree to grant SMC nationwide jurisdiction. Since most Latin prelates oppose the demand, the Vatican stand amounts to "absurd" ecclesiastical jurisprudence, he explained.
The SMC prelate remarked that the Church champions truth and justice but "totally denies" those values in "its internal administration."
SMC migrants in Latin dioceses know their just and juridical rights, and "are totally fed up" with the Vatican attitude, Bishop Karotemprel stated.
However, in concluding he recalled that his 2,000-year-old Church "never got separated from the See of Peter" and pledged "filial love and obedience to our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI."
Describing the pope as the "ultimate dispenser of truth and justice in the Church," he urged SMC Catholics to remain "hopeful."
The Latin rite accounts for 128 of India's 160 dioceses. The SMC has 26 dioceses in India, including 10 outside Kerala, to which 3.5 million of India's 17 million Catholics belong. It also has one diocese for North America, based in Chicago, the United States.
Latin rite follows the Roman liturgy introduced by European missioners in the 15th century.
The SMC is the larger of the two Oriental-rite Churches in India, both of which follow Syrian Church traditions and trace their origins to Saint Thomas the Apostle. The smaller Syro-Malankara Church, also based in Kerala, has six dioceses.
Until the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), India's Oriental-rite Churches were confined to Kerala. The council set up SMC dioceses outside Kerala, but placed them in ecclesiastical provinces headed by Latin-rite archdioceses.
The Vatican made the SMC self-governing in 1992 but retained the right to decide on administrative matters for its dioceses outside Kerala.
END
(14 votes, average: 4.57 out of 5)
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December 16, 2008 at 1:09 am
All India Jurisdiction is a wonderful idea. World-wide jurisdiction is much more wonderful. But, what is this jurisdiction for? How many Syro-Malabar dioceses in India are 'really' different from Latin dioceses. What is so special and distinct about Syro-Malabar? If it is the origin, even Verapoly, Kollam, Kottar, Cochin and Madras-Mylapore (arch) dioceses also claim directly or indirectly that they are also St Thomas Christians. If it is Liturgy, Holy Qurbana is Holy Mass in most of the parishes. A major difference is that, in the Holy Mass celebrated in Syro-Malabar Churches, we pray for Major Archbishop too, other than Holy Father and the local bishop. I doubt, even some bishope have ever read the Instructions for celebrating our Holy Qurbana at least once. We hardly see anything substantially different from other Latin Dioceses. Just to have 'Mass' in Malayalam alone, or slightly modified Latin Mass, why should we need more dioceses? Let some bishops including Bishop Gregory and priests answer to the world, what specific 'Syro-Malabar' traditions that they cater or trying to cater even after having a 'Synod' for many years. Are we developing or restoring any type of Theology which is nourishing the Theology of the Universal Church? Are we able to enumerate the uniqueness of our rite? If not, then why should we cry for creating more dioceses and confuse the people with jargons like multiple jurisdiction and personal jurisdiction?
December 10, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Most Rev.bishop Gregory Karetemprel and All our syro Malabar Bishops,
Do not be afraid, frustrated and disappointed. I am really surprised why do we ask permission for the the rtights that has already we have.Don't make again Syro Malabar Church as a"disturbing One" to Rome.If the Bishops ask for the rights and previleges 'you will never get positive or negative reply.Go throughthe history of the church we see that church had the its own all India jurisdiction.From fourth centuary until the sixteenth centuery the Bishops of the Malabar church were appointed by the Patriarch of the Eastern Church .The Bishop was in charge of the liturgy and the spiritual matters. The head of the St.Thomas church had the title"The Metropolitan of all India. The Arch Deacon was the adminitrator and head of the local church community. Archdeacon had the Title "Arch Deacon of all India. "Thus syro Malabar church had its own "Sui Juris ie one's own right. The Vatican made the SMc self governing. We think about the multiplication of the Diocese. To me it is better to say" Make the place better where ever we are" The SMC people are working and living in different parts of India. First take care of their spiritual needs.I hope the ORIENTALS have to build churches and take care of their own spiritual children wherever they are. Do that rights and previleges first. Later Rome has to do the rest. Don't make disputes with Rome. Keep up our integrity and complete obedinec to Rome. I don't want to see this issue as a scandal among the church community.Don't be afraid. Pray and work for the good of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
December 10, 2008 at 8:22 am
The good example shown by Bp. Gregory, I think, should be followed by other bishops, especially the younger ones in India. The earnestness to obedience and unitiy should not be a reason for us to set aside our self respect and dignity.
It is a felt need that some solution for the complete unity of all rites of the church in India must be found. If it is possible in the diocese of Rajkot ( whos bishop is Bp. Greorory) that one catholic bishop look after all the faithful belonging to different rites, why is not possible everywhere in India - at least outside Kerala?
Instead of asserting only the differences of different rites, it is high time that the christians of India, take into consideration theier common cultural and social contexts and look to the future to unite in heart together. That does not mean that they should not learn from their glorious past, especially from ther rites. Indian culture and languages must be given more attention. Our common goal should unite us together.
When we fight for human rights and other rights of the people of India, we should not forget that like ´charity begins at home´, justice also begins at home. It is a fact that majority of the SMC have a feeling of neglect from Rome, in spite of their loyalty and active involment of the church activities wherever they are. My prayer "Lord your will be done and your kingdom come". Thank you for reading.
December 8, 2008 at 11:12 am
If the Vatican does not grant the Oriental Churches true autonomy, this does not bode well for the prospects for intercommunion with other larger Churches such as the Orthodox churches.
December 7, 2008 at 8:59 pm
I very much appreciate the comments of Bishop Gregory for the frankness.But I disagree with his views. My reasons are :
1 The syro -malabar hierarchy is a divided house .It has two factions .the ernakulam faction and Changanacherry faction on the liturgy issue.So the synod also will be a divided house.
2 Surely there will be major cotroversy in the matter of appont6ing a sucssassor to Cardinal who is the major Arch bishop.The issue will be whether he will a man of Ernakulam faction or Changancherry faction.
3 First the Syro malabar church should set its house in order by reaching an understanding on common liturgy.then only it will have the credibility to as k for expansion.
4 threatening Vatican and shoing loyalty to Vatican amount to double apeak.Better to form sepearate church as done by jacobite -orthodox faxtions rather than threatening Rome or Pope.It was never in our culture.
5 most people .laity and clergy in kerala well specualte as to which bishop is with Ernakulam faction and which with Changanacherry faction.
6 Catholics who migrtae to other parts of India or outside should well try to strnghthen the local church there rather than remaining as sepearte pockets.
7 the CMI congregation has set a goood example by working for various latin dioceses in usa.In the same way the syrain catholic lait6y also ahould work for strnthening the local churh whereever they are c.
8 Syrianisation is an emotional outcry for power. Complete obedience to Rome is tha hall mark of a devoted catholic whether he is syrian,latin ,knanaya or malankara.
8 the sam priciple of autonomy applies to kananya catholics who want sepearte heirarchy.Why not concede that deamnd befor e as king for independeance.The principle involved is the same
December 6, 2008 at 12:44 am
Without knowing all the details of the situation it seems to me that Bishop Gregory has made a respectful but legitimate complaint. From my reading of Church history the popes have often protected the Eastern Rites against the Latin Rite. Often but not always. Perhaps we should all write to the appropriate Vatican office and ask for a clarification. Someone can give the address in a comment.
December 5, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Our Most respected Bishop Gregory Karotemprel, We want to thank you for boldly telling the truth to the Catholic Church's highest authorities. I never think that they do not know the problems and the answers to solve in a Christian way. But they do not want! I find that the Head of the Syro Malankara Church is courageous enough to establish his dioceses and parishes anywhere in the world. Why our heads are afraid in the name of obedience and devotion. When justice is denied and when it is denied with hidden intentions the gravity of sin committed is too serious. In front of God this sin of omission is unpardonable committed against a great Church which supplies a big percentage of Priests, Nuns and even Bishops to the whole of India. Our Church is in fetters and the whole world knows that. We have said enough about this situation to the deaf ears of people concerned. Will God work a miracle by the Christmas 2008, by inspiring the heads of Holy Catholic Church, to be faithful to Christ the Messiah who preferred those who were discriminated by the society and rejected by the elders and authorities of Israel? Bishop Gregory, you have always stood with justice and with the Syro Malabar Church. You have never thought about getting new posts and prestigious positions in the Church. Being a Carmelite you have always stood for the community of God's people rather than for your own personal benefits. We are proud about you. I pray that you may see that day when the official Church will listen to your observations and make immediate changes in their policies.
December 5, 2008 at 8:37 am
Dear Bishop Karottampral,
I appreciatete your courage to express your disappointment regarding the unaccomplished responsibility vested upon you, as Bishop- in- charge of the SMC outside Kerala. You waited to express this opinion so long. You should have expessed this much earlier.
However "better late than never". Hope such bold and united efforts will help open the eyes of Indian Latin Rite Bishops and Vatican.
God bless you.
December 4, 2008 at 10:41 am
Brave dear Bishop !!!! we wanted to react like this. our holy silence was our problem. we, SMC are with you. let all our SMC bishops together say it once again.
December 3, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I do admire and congratulate Bp. Gregory for having said the truth openly and coregeously. However, I have to express my feeling that this situation is not due to the failure of the Holy see, but we should be able to present before them what for we have to have the territorial expansion. Unless and other wise the uniqueness of our church is not regained and lived according to the Vat II teachings, what for we should multiply the number of bishops and diocese. Is it not ture that there are Syro-Malabar churches and bishops who do celebrates regularly Latin liturgy. How many of our north indian diocese follow the directives of the synod regarding the liturgy. How many reliogious houses (which do not have any restriction to follow the liturgy of the hours and other ptrimony) follow the patrimony. Is it not true that many of them follow latin brevery to shorten the time and to learn english.
Is so, let us first unite and present before the world our tradition and ask the external arragements to keep them. Jurisdiciton is not for itself, but to safeguard our tradtions.
December 3, 2008 at 12:59 am
Congratulations Bishop Gregory! It is high time that we stand for our rites/rights. Marykutty & I admire your sincerity, honesty and courage. We fondly remember your visit to California prior to the establishment of Syro-Malabar Diocese in Chicago. We remember your honest opinion in that regard.
I disagree with comments made by Mr. Kattathara Thomas and Azhikunnu. Please go through the History of our church in India.
Pappachan
December 2, 2008 at 9:04 pm
The Holy See sould have responded to the SMC's appeal long ago either with an yes or no. And it owes an explanation to this 'culpable' 42 year old silence.' Perhaps it doesn't see the Indian realities well, or may be it has seen too much of it to remain silent.
Religious fundamentalism, communal riots, inter rite rivalry, negligible conversions and slow growth of the church , the governmental antipathy toward Christians are all reasons to re-examin our motives and priorities. I don't think multiplication of dioceses is a sign of our growth in faith and spirituality. We are what we are by birth. I personally don't think a particular church tradition and rituals are going to help us get to heaven.
So why not continue being loyal to Rome than blame them? The nation wide jurisdiction of the SMC may witness a multiplication of dioceses, and more "Catholic" schools and hospitals, but not a real increase of faith and the faithful.
If we begin questioning the credibility of Rome the credibility of the Synod of Bishops will also be questioned eventually. And the church, I am afraid, will be a mess, and not the "One, Catholic and Apostolic"
December 2, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Syro-Malabar church has always been crying for justice at the mercy of the western church. It is time to act. let our other bishops too think and act in the line of Bishop Karotemprel.
December 2, 2008 at 4:22 am
COGRATULATIONS TO BISHOP GREGORY ! IT IS THE TIME TO AWAKE ! OBEDIENCE IS NOT SLAVERY?IT IS JUSTICE ,PEACE AND LOVE
November 28, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I congratulate Bp.Gregory for speaking the truth without fear, while the other SMC Bishops are scared to point out the truth because of their fear of incurring the wrath of latin rite hierarchy including the Pope. It is evident the Pope himself is not much better than the latin rite bishops in India in dispensing the truth and running the catholic church in accordance with the doctrines of the church. The suppression of freedom of st.thomas christians is the result of British rule of India. If you have learned the Indian colonial history, you will know thatLatin priests came along with the colonial rulers, ran the church according to the directives of their political masters whose main modus operandi was subjugation of Indians by various means. They got wealth and assets in all the major cities of India, established educational institutions, built beautiful churches, consecrated bishops in every nook and corner of India, and through their political masters managed to restrict the freedom of syro malabarians to Kerala. We living outside Kerala experience the arrogance of wealth of Latin hierarchy. The entire Latin hierarchy is perpetuating the colonial rule on Indians in religious matters as their political masters used to do.
In all these, the teachings of Christ, doctrines of universal church and cannon laws are thrown to the winds in agreeing to free the syro malabar rite. God is manifesting his will and making it clear to the Latiners in many ways. But they don't realize their mistake and do not mend their ways. Unless we practice what Christ has taught us to love each other, lead a simple life instead of the pompous life and serve the millions of Indian poor, the days are not far when God will punish us. How can we love and serve the poor and spread the gospel of christ, when you deny justice, equality and freedom to your own fellow Christians here.
Another very important matter many are forgetting is that freedom does not given to you. You have to take it. For the syro malabar bishops, it is their God entrusted duty to take care of their faithful whereever they are in the world. They will have to act in order to do their God entrusted responsibility, they need not get the authorisation from Latin Bishops for carrying out their responsbility and this in no way questions the authority of the Pope. Catholic Church is a congregation of all the sui juris churches. If the Bishops do not act, ordinary people will start leading their life in accordance with the teachings of Christ and the doctrines of the church.
November 27, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Bp. Karotemprel has done what many of his brother bishops do not dare to do - to speak out the mind without mincing words. The entire SMC in India shares his views. The Latin bishops blow hot and cold at the same breath. While they agree that all rites are at par with regard to their status before the Holy See, they want the control of oriental rites. This is nothing but the result of a kind of fear psychosis that rules them that once the all India jurisdiction is granted to the SMC, they may lose the otherwise undue privileges they currently enjoy. I earnestly hope and pray that goodwill & wisdom will prevail upon them and they do not stand in our way to the much awaited genuine demand.
November 26, 2008 at 4:52 pm
WE ALL EAGERLY AWAIT SPEEDY JUSTICE ON THIS.
November 25, 2008 at 10:00 am
Also this observation of UCANews is also not correct: "Until the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), India's Oriental-rite Churches were confined to Kerala. ". The see of St Thomas had all India jurisdiction before colonial powers came to India.
November 25, 2008 at 9:38 am
I read the full text of Bishop Gregory's article. It is an astonishingly daring one. He just call a spade a spade. I do disagree with the comments of Kattathara Thomas, Germany. His remarks of Syro-Malabar diaspora "carrying the burden of unrealistic and unaffected ecclesial authority" is not true. Most of those migrants in this era of increased migration, especially the young families are very keen to keep their faith and traditions to save themselves and their families from the challenges of Western society pose before them. Only some older immigrant families who have lost their identity in a desperate struggle to assimilate themselves with Western society in the past have got a difference of opinion. They need our understanding and care.
Allowing SMC to work throughout India will be the best way to guard Catholic Church in India against Hindu extremism. SMC is more Indian in its roots and appeal and this put SMC in a better position to present Catholic Church as an "Indian" church which the Hindu extremists find difficult to counter.
SMC does not "enjoys many special ecclesiastical privileges that the Latin Rite Church in India does not have in India", it is only taking its rightful position in the world. It is not against any other rite or people. As Bishop Gregory pointed out in his article, it has only contributed/still contributing 30+ Bishops and innumerous priests and nuns to Latin Church of India and abroad. Hopefully they will only be grateful to Syro-Malbar Church, in this regard.
I dont think that there's an indiscipline in the assertions of Bishop Gregory. It is only a wake up call for Rome to write a "reply" to a request made some 20-40 years back! Hopefully, Rome will write a reply back soon :)
And there's NO "Syro Malabar Church of Kerala"! It's only Syro-Malabar Church/Rite in the Universal Church.
November 24, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Bishop Karotemprel has put into words the frustration 99% of Syro-malabar catholics who are aggrieved at this injustice. The blame goes squarely to the Indian Latin Bishops and their collaborators in Rome to perpetuate this injustice. What they are not realising is that in their eagerness to cling on to full power and lord over the entire India, they are blocking genuine evangelical work. Syro Malabar Church has the zeal, commitment and enthusiasm and enough labourers but are made to sit back home and see the harvest rotting. The attitude stems from colonial mind-set.The Indian Latin establishment does nothing to conceal that it enjoys overlordism over its own brother Church. Our Apostolic Visitor duly approved by His Holiness had waited in Rome for 16 days for an audience but the clique operating in Vatican ensured he did not get a chance. We are up against a bureaucratic wall in Vatican. Vested interested have a clear agenda to prevent the unchaining of this very old and second largest Orientital Apostolic Church outside the confines of a limited georgraphical demarcation.
Our constitution guarantees right to every citizen to live, follow, practice and propogage our faith in any part of India without fear in a country with 97% non-Christians. When this right is infringed upon, It can be enforced in the Court of Law and other constitutional remedies. Here our Holy See made very just and right sounding Cannons only to be violated with full immunity by vested interests. With tears in my eye I cry to our Lord Jesus Chirst to make the authority realise their hipocracy and grant us freedom in our own country to serve our Lord with all our might. How long will this injustice last, my Lord.
November 22, 2008 at 2:32 pm
the agony expressed is not just the voice of boshop gregory alone. it is a matter of shame that at this age of cummunication revolution and instant emails and faxes, it takes years vatican to reply "either positively or negatively". it may not be wrong to charge the roman curia of being deaf and dumb to the voices of syro malabar church. the decades of missionary opportunity lost due to the ban on syro malabar church's rigt and duty towards evangelization is a criminal wastage of god's gift to the church through the missionary church, ie the syro malabar church. the bishop has done the right thing to use plain language instead of diplomatice language. the deaf and dumb act must be stopped immediately.
George K Jose
Secretary
St. Thomas Christians Association
November 22, 2008 at 1:05 am
This is an example of Nero with his fiddle! It is sad that when the ordinary believers are being tortured in India, the Bishop of Rajkot has nothing else to think of than the struggle for power and positions. The situation of India today and the concerns of the Heierarchy shows ony the divide between reality and their concerns. This is really deplorable. With full respect to our respected Bishop, I would say, that has forgotten the fact that the people from Kerala has not migrated to other parts of the world thinking that they will keep on carrying the burden of unrealistic and unaffected ecclesial authority. We would have expected the Bishop to raise the concerns of the people rather than speak such third rate power struggle. It would be desirable that the Bishops engage in the concerns of the people.
November 21, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I particularly agree with Bishop Gregory's comment about the Vatican when he states that Rome claims to be champion of truth and justice in the world but practices none of it when it comes to its own internal administration. They talk the talk, but seldom walk the walk. It's the obvious hypocricy that has driven so many people from the Church for various reasons. The corruption that comes with absolute power is something that they will all have to answer for on Judgement Day. This does not exempt the Pope either, by the way.
November 20, 2008 at 1:30 am
Congratulatons to Bishop Gregory Karottemprel !!! We need brave people like you dear Bishop. I hope and pray that many more of our Bishops follow his suit. We should make our sound heard or else this "ecclesiastical colonization" will continue...
November 20, 2008 at 1:06 am
The accusation of Rt.Rev. Gregory Karotempel ,one of the senior Bishop´s of the Syro Malabar Church of Kerala, India against the Holy See that the SMC( Syro Malabar Church) has lost faith and hope in the ability of vatican to do justice to his churuh amounts to indicipline and dilsoyality to the Holy See.
The criticisam of the Bishop against Vatican at a time when the very church he belongs facing many a problems from Hindu fanatics in India is ill conceived and deplorable. The present President of the All India Catholic Bishop´s Conference is from Syro Malabar Church of India and the SMC enjoys many special ecclesiastical privileges that the Latin Rite Church in India does not have in India.
The accusation of the concernd Bishop is really unwarented and untimely and the Bishop should withdraw his comment against the Holy See and he should vacate his episcopacy before it brings more confusion amoung the laity in India.