Kochi: The joint circular issued by the Syro-Malabar church synod of bishops was read in only 10 out of the 328 churches in the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese. 318 churches and other institutions where mass is offered rejected the circular. The archdiocese protection committee had made the decision against reading out the circular in the churches under the Ernakulam-Angamaly diocese. 

The synod last week the synod issued a circular demanding that a uniform holy mass be conducted in the Syro-Malabar churches. A circular signed by all the bishops who attended the Syro-Malabar church synod on January 13 was forwarded to the priests in this regard. It was also suggested that the circular containing the synod’s request should be read during mass the following Sunday (today) in all the parishes and institutions under the archdiocese and be made available to the laity. 

Meanwhile, Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil also came forward clarifying that holy mass cannot be celebrated as per the priest’s wishes nor can the liturgy be modified to accommodate the will of individuals.