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Indian Church's bitter liturgical dispute brings street protest

Priests, laypeople from Kerala's Syro-Malabar Church oppose a decision to have uniformity in celebrating Mass
Indian Church's bitter liturgical dispute brings street protest

A priest of India's Eastern-rite Syro-Malabar Church addresses a gathering in front of the church's headquarters in Kochi on Nov. 12 protesting a synod decision to have a uniform liturgical celebration. (Photo supplied)   

Published: November 15, 2021 10:19 AM GMT
Updated: November 15, 2021 03:20 PM GMT

The decades-long liturgical dispute in India’s Eastern-rite Syro-Malabar Church took a dramatic turn with priests and laypeople taking to the streets to protest the decision by the bishops’ synod to have uniformity in celebrating Mass.

Catholic priests and lay groups began gathering separately on Nov. 12 in front of St. Thomas Mount, the church’s headquarters in Ernakulam district of Kerala state, seeking a review of the synod’s decision.

The synod in August had agreed to implement a 1999 decision for uniformity in Mass celebration in all its dioceses as part of an effort to bring in more unity among its members, especially in liturgy.

The 1999 decision had agreed to the priests facing the congregation during Mass until the Eucharistic prayer, and then again from communion to the end of the Mass. During the Eucharistic prayer, they were required to face the altar against the congregation.

As the Nov. 28 deadline for implementing the decision in all 35 dioceses inched closer, groups of priests and laypeople demanded that the entire Mass be celebrated with the celebrant facing the people, as they have been doing for at least four decades.

Some people see the 1999 decision as a “compromise formula” to satisfy two factions of the church, divided over the liturgical renewal efforts that began after the Second Vatican Council.

The synod’s decision without consulting anyone — the priests and the laity — is not acceptable to us

One group wanted renewal on modern lines requiring the priests to face people during the Mass, while the other wanted the traditional way where the priest faces the altar.

Some dioceses already follow the 1999 decision but it was put on hold in some dioceses due to opposition from a section of priests and laity. To bring unity, the synod set Nov. 28 to start implementing the unified form of Mass in all dioceses.  

The synod also gave dioceses until April 17, 2022, to implement the decision.

The main opposition to the compromise formula has come from the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly and Trissur besides Irijnalakuda Diocese.

Police blocked protesters at the gates when they tried to present a memorandum to the church's major archbishop, Cardinal George Alencherry, who heads the Syro-Malabar Church.

Riju Kanjookarn told UCA News on Nov. 14 that they have been following the Mass with the celebrant facing the congregation for more than five decades.

“The synod’s decision without consulting anyone — the priests and the laity — is not acceptable to us,” he said.

Some laypeople supported the synod and insisted on complying with its decision within the set deadline.

The bishops had not forced any decision on anyone as being made out but had acted in good faith for unity and uniformity among our people and for our better future as one people of God

“It is painful to see our priests and laity staging protests in front of the church's headquarters,” said Father Alex Onampally, media commission secretary of the Syro-Malabar synod.

“The bishops had not forced any decision on anyone as being made out but had acted in good faith for unity and uniformity among our people and for our better future as one people of God,” he told UCA News on Nov. 15.

Although some people oppose the Synod decision, the majority support it, he said.

“It is the duty of the Church to follow one liturgy as Syro –Malabar being a sui juris Church for its better future and it should not be misinterpreted” he asserted.

“The liturgy is the invaluable wealth of the Church can preserve for the future generations," the priest said.

The synod had followed all the provisions of canon law and there is no chance of any change in its decision, church officials said.

The protesters, however, vowed to continue their protest if the synod refused to revoke its decision.

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1 Comments on this Story
THOMAS KOCHERRY
As in the past, UCA News is advocating for a small faction of rebel priests. Your reporter in Kerala has always been advocating the points of view of these rebels. I have, many times in the past, brought this matter to your attention. Unfortunately this bias still continues. The great majority of the faithful and priests and religious support the decision of the Synod. This small group is playing the cards of some enemies of the Church. I suggest that UCA News get an independent reporter who would file unbiased reports about Indian Churches, especially the Syro Malabar Church.
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