Indian Church's Bitter Liturgical Dispute Brings Street Protest

UCANews ^ | 11/15/21 | News Reporter

[marshmallow]

Priests, laypeople from Kerala's Syro-Malabar Church oppose a decision to have uniformity in celebrating Mass

The decades-long liturgical dispute in India’s Eastern-rite Syro-Malabar Church took a dramatic turn with priests and laypeople taking to the streets to protest the decision by the bishops’ synod to have uniformity in celebrating Mass.

Catholic priests and lay groups began gathering separately on Nov. 12 in front of St. Thomas Mount, the church’s headquarters in Ernakulam district of Kerala state, seeking a review of the synod’s decision.

The synod in August had agreed to implement a 1999 decision for uniformity in Mass celebration in all its dioceses as part of an effort to bring in more unity among its members, especially in liturgy.

The 1999 decision had agreed to the priests facing the congregation during Mass until the Eucharistic prayer, and then again from communion to the end of the Mass. During the Eucharistic prayer, they were required to face the altar against the congregation.

As the Nov. 28 deadline for implementing the decision in all 35 dioceses inched closer, groups of priests and laypeople demanded that the entire Mass be celebrated with the celebrant facing the people, as they have been doing for at least four decades.

Some people see the 1999 decision as a “compromise formula” to satisfy two factions of the church, divided over the liturgical renewal efforts that began after the Second Vatican Council.

One group wanted renewal on modern lines requiring the priests to face people during the Mass, while the other wanted the traditional way where the priest faces the altar.

Some dioceses already follow the 1999 decision but it was put on hold in some dioceses due to opposition from a section of priests and laity. To bring unity, the synod set Nov. 28 to start implementing the......