In a pastoral letter from Vatican Arch-bishop Antony Kariyil CMI has asked all the priests and faithful to keep the status quo as regards the orientation of the Holy Mass from November 28 which the date to start to new mode of celebration of the Holy Mass as directed by the Synod, Using the provision of CCEO 1538 he is dispensing the archdiocese from the decision of the Synod on uniform celebration of the Holy Mass. On November 25 and 26 he had audiences with Pope Francis and the Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental churches respectively and had consultation with them. He is using the canonical provisions as directed by the church authorities. “In virtue of your office as Vicar of the Major Archbishop for the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly, Your Grace can apply the faculty of dispensation for those cases, which; in your prudential judgment, would result in grave consequences with the entry into force on 28 November 2021 of the Synodal Decisions concerning the Holy Qurbana” Says the letter of the Prefect cardinal Leonardo Sandri of Oriental Congregation.
In 1990 the Syro-Malabar Synod had made a unanimous decision for a uniform celebration of the Holy Mass but could not put the decision into practise because of the opposition from the priests and faithful. At that time Abp Jacob Thoomkuzhy and Abp Varkey Vithayathil used the same provision to dispense with the decision. The law says the local Ordinary can judge “that a dispensation will contribute to the spiritual good of the Christian faithful who are subject to him according to the norm of the law, the eparchial bishop can dispense from both the common law and the particular laws of his own Church sui iuris in a special case…”. Msgr Antony Nariculam followed to assist the Archbishop. Bp Pauly Kannokadan has done the same thing in the diocese of Irinjalakuda.