Catholic Archdiocese Deplores Burning of Cardinals’ Effigies at Syro-Malabar Uniform Liturgy Protest

Catholic News Agency ^ | 3/18/22

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A Catholic archdiocese in India condemned the burning of effigies of two cardinals on Thursday by laypeople opposed to the introduction of a uniform liturgy in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.

Lay activists set fire to effigies of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Eastern Churches, and Cardinal George Alencherry, the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, on March 17 in Kochi, southwestern India.

Photos and videos shared on social media showed flames rising from two figures dressed in white cassocks with red fascias, or sashes, the customary dress for bishops in the Syro-Malabar Church.

The incident took place in front of a renewal center in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese.

The archdiocese’s spokesman Father Mathew Kilukkan said on March 17: “The attempt to burn the effigies of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, and Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, the head of Syro-Malabar Church, is highly deplored.”

“Neither the Archdiocese of Ernakulam Angamaly, its leadership nor the authorities of Renewal Center was involved in this incident.”

“The archdiocese completely condemns such unchristian protests. The archdiocese is always interested in dialogue-based problem-solving.”

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“Referring to a recent hunger strike by priests opposed to the uniform liturgy, the cardinal added: “The Apostolic See understands that some have difficulty in following the synodal decisions, but exhorts all to avoid activism and protests using non-ecclesial and non-Christian methods such as hunger strike usque ad mortem [until death].”