Stop public offering of Mass: Vatican issues ultimatum to protesting Kerala priests
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Thiruvananthapuram: The Vatican issued an ultimatum to the priests of Catholic archdiocese of Ernakulam to stop public offering of the Mass at churches from this Sunday.
Archbishop Cyril Vasil, authorized by the Pope to end dispute in Kerala over mode of offering Mass, in a directive asked all priests to follow the 2021 Church Synod decision on uniform Mass, The Indian Express reported.
In the event of not toeing the line, the noncompliance would lead to ‘culpable disobedience to the Pope (and) non-compliance would inevitably invite disciplinary action”, as per Vasil’s directive.
Vatican’s directive for uniform prayer procedure for Mass, already implemented by dioceses under the Church in 2021, wants clergy to offer the opening part of the Mass facing the faithful, and perform the remaining part facing the altar and inner sanctum.
However, a large section of priests of Ernakulam archdiocese demands for offering the entire ritual facing the people.
Cyril Vasil, who is originally from Slovakia arrived in Kerala last week, had to seek police protection after priests and laymen protested against him entering St Mary’s Basilica, the seat of the Cardinal.
In the thick of the protest, priests and laymen reportedly threw water bottles at him.
Protests called out Vasil’s directive to them to follow the Church Synod as regards offering Mass, and protesting priests said ‘it is not Slovakia (Archbishop Vasil’s home country), but Kerala’.