A Vatican delegate appointed to help find a solution to the raging liturgy controversy in India’s Eastern rite Syro-Malabar Church has told Catholics that those who reject the Vatican-approved Mass effectively reject the Catholic Church. Source: UCA News.
Archbishop Cyril Vasil from Slovakia, who was appointed Pontifical Delegate to Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese was addressing the laity and priests in the archdiocese during a Mass on Tuesday at the Church’s headquarters in Kochi, southern India.
At the centre of the controversy is the refusal of the archdiocesan priests and laity to accept a liturgy approved by their Church’s synod, the highest decision-making body of the Syro-Malabar Church, and the Vatican.
“There will never be God’s blessing on illegal protest and rebellion,” Archbishop Vasil said and sought forgiveness for the scandals in the Church on his knees.
“On my knees, and I personally ask forgiveness for anything on the part of anyone who may have given any reason for any real or supposed justification for this rebellion.”
He then kneeled before the people.
“Likewise, on my knees, I also ask you to no longer participate in this sin against our Lord and the Catholic Church,” said Archbishop Vasil, exhorting Catholics to move away from the illegal Mass followed in the archdiocese, where the celebrant faces the people.
‘Are you with the Pope?’
“Answer in your heart. Are you with the Holy Father? Do you wish to remain priests and members of the Catholic Church and of your Syro-Malabar Church?” Archbishop Vasil asked, reading out from a prepared text.
Some 400 priests of the archdiocese along with the laity insist to continue to face people while celebrating the liturgy. The Synod-approved Mass demands them to face the altar during the Eucharist prayer of the Mass and face people during its start and concluding portions.
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‘Are you with the pope,’ Vatican delegate asks Indian Church (UCA News)
