The ongoing conflict within the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala, regarding the method of conducting holy mass, erupted on Sunday with protests and verbal altercations across several parishes.

Copies of a circular issued earlier this month by the Church, which gave priests an ultimatum to adhere to the Synod-approved uniform mass format or face expulsion, were burned, thrown into bins, and drowned in backwaters by a section of the laity and priests opposing the leadership.

According to the Synod-approved format, the priest must face the congregation only during the first and last parts of the liturgical service, and turn towards the altar for the remainder of the mass, following a 50:50 formula.

At Edappally, in front of St George Church, when the faction supporting the official leadership read out the circular, the opposing faction booed and raised slogans. Scuffles and chanting were reported in several parishes throughout the district.

On June 9, the Church, which has over 5 million adherents in the state and is one of the principal Catholic denominations, requested that the circular be read out in churches within the diocese on Sunday and that the instructions regarding the uniform mass be strictly implemented from July 3 onwards. The Church warned that priests who violate this ultimatum will be barred from their duties and expelled.

Almaya Munnettam, a laity group opposed to the Synod-approved uniform mass format and supported by several priests within the diocese, stated that the circular was not read out in 321 churches where the mass is conducted in the traditional format, with the priest facing the congregation at all times.

“Over 450 priests and all parish committees within the Ernakulam - Angamaly archdiocese have stated multiple times before the Synod and the Vatican that they will only offer mass where the priest faces the congregation throughout the ritual. But the Church leadership has never considered the stand of the diocese or intervened to find a solution and instead has always tried to impose its agenda. Today’s protests show that the laity and priests in the diocese are ready to defend their position,” said Riju Kanjookaran, spokesperson of the Almaya Munnettam.

Image source: Hindustan Times