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Separated Kerala churches work for unity

There have been 'milestone agreements' but critics still question the need to unify the disparate congregations
Separated Kerala churches work for unity

People offer prayers at a church in southern India in this file photo. (Photo by IANS)

Published: January 25, 2017 07:34 AM GMT
Updated: January 25, 2017 10:08 AM GMT

Efforts for unity are now taking place between eight denominations in India's Kerala state prompted by the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 18-25.

While the Vatican led unity talks with the Anglican Communion, it entrusted dialogue with Kerala's two Eastern Orthodox churches, the Malankara Orthodox Church and the Jacobite Syrian Church, to a joint international commission.

The Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue could achieve certain milestone agreements said the commission's coordinator, Father Philip Nelpuraparampil.

The Catholic Church and the two Eastern churches have agreed on Christology, Eucharist, Penance and the Anointing of the Sick. They have also agreed on issues relating to cemeteries and church buildings, Father Nelpuraparampil told ucanews.com.

The commission also reached an agreement with the Jacobite Syrian Church on marriage between members of the two churches and hoped to agree on the primacy of St. Peter, which Catholics use as the basis for the primacy of the pope over other bishops, Father Nelpuraparampil said.

"We have brought out a joint statement on the primacy of St. Peter. We hope this will eventually lead to the recognition of the pope by the two eastern churches, making total ecumenism easier. The commission meeting next year is expected to pursue the matter further," he said.

However, critics do not share his optimism. Joseph Pulikkunnel, who has been spearheading a reformist movement among Kerala's Christians, said that unity would only be possible if the Eastern churches restore their pre-Portuguese colonial heritage.

"The church has many institutions and properties now controlled by the bishops. In the olden days, control of these would go to democratic committees. The bishops apparently do not want to lose this power. Therefore, they don't want the church to go back to pre-Portuguese days," Pulikkunnel said.

Father Paul Thelakat, former spokesman of the Syro-Malabar Church and chief editor of Church-run magazine, Sathyadeepam, said that going back to the pre-Portuguese period is "utopian."

"The very concept of a merger of churches is unrealistic and presupposes some sort of hegemony. Let the different churches work together to cooperate in service and worship. What separates us are not matters of faith but matters of power and authority," the priest said.

He told ucanews.com that that ecumenism is seen as "a luxury rather than a need and a duty."

Unity prayers are "happening as a ritual without passion and differences among churches is not seen as matters of life and death," he said.

The two Eastern churches, now in dialogue with the Catholic Church, are among eight groups of Christians in Kerala, who claim that St. Thomas Apostle baptized their ancestors when he is believed to have traveled to India in 52 AD.

The Portuguese reformed the St. Thomas Christians which led to a division between them and the Catholic Church in 1653. Anglican and Protestant denominations grew under British colonial rule.

However, Catholics continue to be a majority and constitute five out of six million Christians in Kerala. Government statistics show that Christians form 18 percent of 33 million people in the state.

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