mar george allanchery holy mass protest
Kochi: Syro Malabar church has warned of disciplinary against the people who protest against unified holy mass in churches. On Monday, Syro Malabar Church Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar George Alencherry and Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese apostolic administrator Andrews Thazhath issued the warning to the protestors while reacting to the uproar in St. Mary’s Basilica church on Christmas eve.
In a press release, the church authority expressed strong disappointment over opting for the holy mass as a tool for protest.
“People who used holy mass to protest violated the church discipline. Strict action will be taken against the people who insulted the holy mass and tainted the sanctity of the church.” criticised the Syro Malabar Church in its press release.
The church also condemned the stance of some priests and believers against the unified holy mass and appealed to them to end the protests.
A clash erupted in St Mary’s Basilica in Ernakulam after a group of priests and laity offered holy mass facing the believers on Saturday. During the holy mass offering, believers who support the synod’s direction of unified holy mass barged into the church and created a ruckus. The altar in the church was vandalised during the fight.
The fisticuffs ended with several people including priests getting injured and admitted to hospitals. The basilica is not closed but the two warring groups decided that no holy mass would be conducted until a consensus is reached on the matter.
The laity and priests supporting the mass facing the believers said that the altar of the basilica must be reconsecrated for the Holy Mass to be conducted there again as the fight between the two groups had led to even the upturning of the altar.
A letter has already been shot off to the Vatican for intervention in the matter.
(with inputs from IANS)
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