(ZENIT News / Kochi, 08.19.2023).- The Vatican issued a strong warning on August 17 to priests who oppose the implementation of uniformity in the celebration of Holy Mass in the churches of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. The warning emphasizes that disobedience to this directive will result in canonical sanctions.
In a letter addressed to the priests of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, the pontifical delegate, Archbishop Cyril Vasil, urged the practice of the approved form of celebrating Holy Mass according to the Synod, starting on August 20. The letter specifies that disobedience to this order will be considered «voluntary, personal and culpable disobedience to the Holy Father.»
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is one of the 22 Eastern Churches in full communion with the Pope.
In August 2021, the Synod on the Church introduced a uniform way of celebrating Holy Mass, where the priest faces the congregation during the opening and closing parts and faces the altar for the remainder of the Mass.
While most dioceses of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church adopted this unified form of the Mass, most priests in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, backed by their parishioners, opposed it, arguing that they could not depart from the traditional way of celebrating Mass. Mass with the priest facing the congregation.
Archbishop Vasil was appointed by the Vatican to address the ongoing conflict regarding uniformity in the celebration of Mass in this Archdiocese, where discontent among priests, nuns, and laity has been growing over the imposition of this uniformity.
The letter from the Pontifical Delegate warns that disobedience to this order obstructs the Pope’s right to communicate with the faithful and will be considered a «serious infraction», which leads to the consequent canonical sanctions.
However, Vasil clarified that if someone faces difficulties in complying with the directive due to intimidation or threats, there is no need to hold public celebrations until a favorable result is achieved.
The Pontifical Delegate also urged priests to reflect seriously on the vow of obedience made during their ordination, noting that obedience to the legitimate authority of priests would be an edifying example for the faithful.
The reaction of some Catholics to the Pontifical Delegate has been strong. In response to the liturgical decision, some have called on the Indian government to deport Archbishop Cyril Vasil, citing violations of visa rules and involvement in illegal activities.
Associated with the Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency (ATM), a forum of priests and laity in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, complaints against Archbishop Vasil have been filed with the Indian government. They question his neutrality and accuse him of threatening the priests. The leaders of the movement await answers from the authorities and, if they are not satisfactory, they are prepared to take legal action against them.
