The liturgy dispute in a Catholic archdiocese in Kerala took an ugly turn November 27 when its administrator was prevented from forcibly entering the cathedral church to offer Sunday Mass.
Archbishop Andrews Thazhath, the administrator, came to St Mary’s Basilica Cathedral Church escorted with police to offer Mass in the synod-approved format that is being opposed by the majority of Catholics and clergy in the archdiocese.
Those opposing the administrator had already filled the basilica compound and locked the church gate preventing the prelate to enter the church.
Sensing trouble, the police officials accompanying the archbishop did not allow him to get out of the car. After waiting for almost 10 minutes in front of the basilica, the prelate returned to the nearby Archbishop’s House along with the police and his supp-orters.
The administrator’s supporters broke open the Archbishop’s House’s main gate so that the prelate could enter. They also destroyed a television set, chairs, and photo of former Metropolitan Vicar Archbishop Antony Kariyil among other things in the building.
However, the police officials chased Archbishop Thazhath’s supporters as they continued to indulge in violence.
In the meantime Archbishop Thazhath sat in his car outside the main gate of the Archbishop’s House with the police escort.
A couple of his supporters, who broke open the Archbishop’s House’s main gate, were seen in many video footages urging Archbishop Thazhath to enter the building.
The latest developments took place a day after a three-member panel appointed by the Syro-Malabar Church’s permanent synod agreed to convey the demands of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese to the apex body and promised to find a solution.
The Church’s permanent synod of bishops on November 24 appointed the panel after it realized that Archbishop Thazhath was leading the archdiocese to a breakaway point.
On November 25, the panel led by Archbishop Mathew Moolakkatt of Kottayam had a cordial meeting for three hours with the representatives of the priests and laity of the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly. The other members in the panel are Archbishop Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry and Bishop Jose Chittooparambil of Rajkot.
However, Archbishop Thazhath ignored the panel’s promises and tried to forcibly enter the cathedral to offer the Synod Mass.