More than 50,000 Indian Syro-Malabar Catholics attended a protest in the southwestern city of Kochi on Sunday, demonstrating against changes that would have priests face east during parts of local Syro-Malabar Eucharistic liturgies, and opposing the recent resignation of Archbishop Antony Kariyil.
Protest Aug. 7 outside Kaloor Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium.
The nearly two-hour protest at the Kaloor Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium drew priests and laity from across the Ernakulam-Angamaly Syro-Malabar archdiocese, according to local media reports. Organizers said more than 320 parishes were represented, along with other nearby dioceses.
Some protesters held signs in Italian, in a possible attempt to attract Vatican attention.
A priest at the demonstration told The Pillar that the event was called the “Great gathering for the protection of Faith.”
Demonstrators have four demands, he said:
• They want to keep the liturgy in the diocese versus populum – with the priest facing the people, rather than facing liturgical east.
• They are also calling for financial restitution following a controversial sale of archdiocesan land.
• They want their Church’s senior officials to listen to the opinions of the laity on controversial matters.
• And they are calling for justice for Archbishop Antony Kariyil, who says he was forced by the Vatican to resign, without any reason given.
The protest comes amid a fierce ongoing debate over whether to implement a uniform mo-de of celebrating the Syro-Malabar Church’s Eucharistic liturgy, known as the Holy Qurbana.