Kochi: Tensions flared in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese on Thursday as a clash broke out between opposing factions amid a protest over the Synod-recommended uniform Holy Mass. The incident, captured on video, occurred during a Synod meeting at St. Thomas Mount, Kakkanad, where a group of priests seized the Bishop’s House to stage a prayer service in protest.

The group of 21 priests, who are advocates of a pro-people-facing Holy Mass format, made it clear that their protests would continue until Bosco Puthur, apostolic administrator of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, withdrew the suspension of the priests, which they claim violated both civil and canon law.

Upon entering the Bishop’s House, the protesting priests were met with supporters, while those backing the Synod-recommended Mass format also gathered. This led to a heated verbal dispute between the two factions. Police were called in and successfully restored order after a tense standoff.

The incident saw a large police presence, as members of the Almaya Munnettam group—lay people opposed to the Synod-recommended Mass—stood outside in support of the protesting priests. With the priests entering the house through the rear, the police attempted to disperse the crowd but struggled to quell the unrest initially.

Thursday also marked the conclusion of a three-day hunger strike led by Joyce Kaithakottil in Angamaly, protesting the lack of action by church authorities. The priests’ takeover of the house was driven by their frustration with the church’s inaction on the matter, calling for an end to retaliatory actions and urging the Apostolic Administrator to resolve the issue with the Curia's support.

Mass change at the heart of tension

The unrest stems from a 2021 Synod decision to introduce a uniform Holy Mass format, which mandates that priests face the altar during most of the service, only facing the congregation at the beginning and end. While other dioceses have accepted this change, the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese remains an exception, with many priests and laity rejecting the shift, arguing it deviates from the traditional practice of priests facing the congregation throughout the Mass.

Meanwhile, Bishop Bosco Puthur recently referred four priests to a special tribunal after they were removed from their positions due to misconduct. This referral follows Canon Law 1473, which governs the conduct of clergy, and was part of a broader disciplinary action, including the removal of the priests from their duties as vicars and parish administrators.