Members belonging to rival factions of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese in Kerala clashed outside the Archbishop’s house late on Thursday (January 9, 2025). A video of the clash and the intervention by police to disperse them emerged on Friday (January 10, 2025).
The clash erupted after 21 priests had joined a fast at the Archbishop’s house called by members of the rebel group who demanded an end to “cruelty” by apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur and the dismissal of the newly-constituted curia of the archdiocese earlier in the day.
The rebel group, under the Almaya Munnettam and the Athiroopatha Samrakshana Samithi which are keen to maintain the tradition of people-facing Mass, is opposed to observing unified Mass in churches under the archdiocese.
Synod for action against priests
Meanwhile, Synod heads of the archdiocese have condemned the fast and requested the 21 priests who joined in the agitation to withdraw from it. The Synod also issued instructions to stakeholders to take action against the agitating priests “who encroached upon the Archbishop’s house” and joined in the fast.
The agitating priests have, meanwhile, issued a statement saying that they joined the stir since their concerns were not heard by different fora in the Church. “The tradition of people-facing Mass is part of our culture and was begun by our forefathers, even before the Synod was constituted. Moreover, the doors to the Archbishop’s house were shut to the rebel priests, even as those from the rival faction had free access to the premises,” the statement said.
The apostolic administrator and the curia “fear” to hold talks to reach a settlement, and are trying to instil fear by suspending priests who refuse to toe their line. In this situation, it is our right and duty to “restore” a curia that has a bishop and well-meaning priests from the archdiocese, they added.
Published – January 10, 2025 04:08 pm IST
