Dispute over Mass sparks clash among priests at Kerala church

Tension has been prevailing at the Basilica, the seat of Church head Cardinal George Alencherry, over offering uniform Mass, which a section of priests from the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese has been opposing over the last year.

While all other dioceses under the Catholic Church had implemented a uniform procedure of offering the Mass — the clergy would offer the initial part of the Mass facing the faithful, and the rest facing the altar and inner sanctum — a major section of the priests of the Archdiocese wanted to offer the entire ritual facing the people.

The latest round of protest began Friday. A section of priests, opposing the uniform procedure, started the ritual at the Basilica. They took turns to offer the Mass which continued on Saturday also. On the other hand, Basilica administrator Fr Antony Puthavelil started the uniform Mass.
On Saturday, while the priests opposed to the new reforms were offering the Mass, another section along with laity barged into the church, sparking tension. They clashed at the church and pulled down the altar in the presence of police.

Archdiocese administrator Archbishop Thazhath, in a release, said the developments at the Basilica were unfortunate and stern action would be taken against the rebel priests who had vandalised the church. “The Holy Mass has been insulted by the priests. All should do repentance for the action of the priests,” he said.

Thazhath was appointed the administrator of the archdiocese recently after removing then incumbent Antony Kariyil, who was against the uniform Mass that the Vatican wished to introduce to the Syro-Malabar Church. Thazhath had also made several attempts to introduce the uniform Mass, but failed to implement the Vatican directive due to protests from the priests of the archdiocese.