Vatican asks Mar Antony Kariyil to step down for opposing uniform holy mass

By Express News Service

KOCHI: The row over implementing the uniform holy mass within the Syro-Malabar Church took a brand new flip with the Vatican reportedly asking the Metropolitan Vicar of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese Mar Antony Kariyil to step down from the put up.

Priests led by Mar Kariyil of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese have been opposing uniform holy mass, defying the diktat by Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, the top of Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala.

According to sources, Mar Kariyil was referred to as by Apostolic Nuncio archbishop Leopoldo Girelli final week to Delhi and was requested to resign. Though Mar Kariyil has not disclosed the discussions within the assembly, the monks alleged that the supporters of the Cardinal via social media have publicised that the ‘urgent resignation has been sought by Vatican’.

An official of the Syro-Malabar Church, nevertheless, informed The New Indian Express that they haven’t acquired any official communication as but.

Meanwhile, a bit of monks of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese who’ve been supporting Mar Kariyil has come ahead to assist him. The monks who oppose the uniform Holy Mass of the archdiocese performed a protest assembly on the headquarters of the Archdiocese in Kochi on Monday.

“Any move to reinstate Cardinal Alencherry as the Archbishop of Ernakulam will be strongly opposed,” stated a decision launched by the opposing monks’ group of the archdiocese on Monday.
 
Fr Jose Vailikodath, PRO of Athirupatha Samrakshana Samithi, a physique of monks of the archdiocese, stated “Mar Kariyil visited the Nuncio last week but even after multiple requests he has not disclosed the Vatican’s communication.”

The decision by the opposing group additional added: “We oppose the Vatican emissary forcefully demanding the resignation of Archbishop Mar Antony Kariyil, the Metropolitan Vicar. The Archeparchy showed tremendous unity, Christian witness and progress during the tenure of Mar Kariyil compared to the past many years. He is a true pastor who knows the hearts and minds of his flock.”

The decision of the monks additionally stated that they can not settle for some other directors or Vicars of the Major Archbishop to rule over them. “We cannot accept any other administrators or Vicars of the Major Archbishop to rule over us at this moment, supplanting Mar Antony Kariyil. Hence we request the Holy See to be synodal in the approach to the priests and laity of the Archdiocese and find a solution to the present impasse through fraternal dialogue in the Catholic spirit, and desist from demanding the forced resignation of Archbishop Mar Antony Kariyil from his office,” stated the decision.

Meanwhile, it’s learnt that the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Girelli will probably be arriving in Kochi on Tuesday to satisfy the Metropolitan Vicar.

KOCHI: The row over implementing the uniform holy mass within the Syro-Malabar Church took a brand new flip with the Vatican reportedly asking the Metropolitan Vicar of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese Mar Antony Kariyil to step down from the put up.

Priests led by Mar Kariyil of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese have been opposing uniform holy mass, defying the diktat by Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, the top of Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala.

According to sources, Mar Kariyil was referred to as by Apostolic Nuncio archbishop Leopoldo Girelli final week to Delhi and was requested to resign. Though Mar Kariyil has not disclosed the discussions within the assembly, the monks alleged that the supporters of the Cardinal via social media have publicised that the ‘urgent resignation has been sought by Vatican’.

An official of the Syro-Malabar Church, nevertheless, informed The New Indian Express that they haven’t acquired any official communication as but.

Meanwhile, a bit of monks of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese who’ve been supporting Mar Kariyil has come ahead to assist him. The monks who oppose the uniform Holy Mass of the archdiocese performed a protest assembly on the headquarters of the Archdiocese in Kochi on Monday.

“Any move to reinstate Cardinal Alencherry as the Archbishop of Ernakulam will be strongly opposed,” stated a decision launched by the opposing monks’ group of the archdiocese on Monday.
 
Fr Jose Vailikodath, PRO of Athirupatha Samrakshana Samithi, a physique of monks of the archdiocese, stated “Mar Kariyil visited the Nuncio last week but even after multiple requests he has not disclosed the Vatican’s communication.”

The decision by the opposing group additional added: “We oppose the Vatican emissary forcefully demanding the resignation of Archbishop Mar Antony Kariyil, the Metropolitan Vicar. The Archeparchy showed tremendous unity, Christian witness and progress during the tenure of Mar Kariyil compared to the past many years. He is a true pastor who knows the hearts and minds of his flock.”

The decision of the monks additionally stated that they can not settle for some other directors or Vicars of the Major Archbishop to rule over them. “We cannot accept any other administrators or Vicars of the Major Archbishop to rule over us at this moment, supplanting Mar Antony Kariyil. Hence we request the Holy See to be synodal in the approach to the priests and laity of the Archdiocese and find a solution to the present impasse through fraternal dialogue in the Catholic spirit, and desist from demanding the forced resignation of Archbishop Mar Antony Kariyil from his office,” stated the decision.

Meanwhile, it’s learnt that the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Girelli will probably be arriving in Kochi on Tuesday to satisfy the Metropolitan Vicar.