Despite the dialogue between the parties initiated by a committee, the meeting of the bishops ended without an agreement on the tensions that have shaken the diocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly for more than a year, which does not want to accept the commitment of a rite unified. The card. Alencherry: “Everyone should understand that celebrating while ignoring the decision taken by the synod is illegitimate.” At Christmas there were new incidents between the two fronts at Ernakulam Cathedral.
Kochi () – Despite ongoing debates, the synod of the Syro-Malabar Church concluded on Saturday on Mount Saint Thomas of Kakkanad without resolving the internal disagreement on the unification of the style of Saint Qurbana, the Eucharistic celebration of this eastern rite.
The Major Archbishop, Cardinal George Alencherry, in a post-synodal circular reiterated that it is the synod and the Holy See who can make the final decision on liturgical matters. No one else has the right to decide otherwise. Everyone should understand that celebrating while ignoring the synod’s decision is illegitimate. “The possibility of debating only exists within the framework of that decision,” he added.
In the circular, the cardinal explained that a committee of six bishops was formed at the suggestion of Mar Andrews Thazhath, the apostolic administrator appointed by Pope Francis for the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly. Several debates were held in the archdiocese with those who oppose and those who support the unified rite, with members of the curia and with the most representative laity. Alencherry said discussions are moving forward with the goal of providing parishes in the archdiocese with adequate time to put the unified celebration into practice.
“The hope of the bishops was to begin the process of reconciliation by initiating the rite decided by the synod in the cathedral basilica at least on Sundays,” the circular read. However, the opponents did not accept these conditions. Consequently, it was not possible to reach a decision accepted by all, but the confrontation will continue.
Commenting on the violent incidents that occurred in Ernakulam Cathedral in the days leading up to Christmas, the circular stated that both the priests who used the Eucharistic celebration as a means of protest and the people who invaded the altar to prevent it inflicted deep wounds on the Church. . A commission report on this will be sent to Rome, which will act accordingly.
Meanwhile, on behalf of the priests of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, Father Jose Vailikodath reiterated that they will continue to celebrate Holy Qurban entirely for the faithful, thus once again rejecting the compromise decided by the Syro-Malabar Synod in 2021 to arrive at a single mode of celebration in the different dioceses. The priest also criticized the post-synodal circular, arguing that it was worded in such a way as to create more problems instead of resolving the issue.
