Over 100 priests stage fast in front of Cardinal’s residence

Demand to exempt archdiocese from uniform Mass

More than 100 priests from the Syro-Malabar Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly staged a protest fast in front of the residence of Cardinal George Alencherry, head of the Syro-Malabar Church, in the city to reiterate their demand that the archdiocese should be allowed to continue with the tradition of fully congregation-facing Mass and be given permanent exemption from a directive of the Synod of Bishops of the church last August in this regard.

A member of the Athirupatha Samrakshana Samithi (forum of priests for protection of the archdiocese) said there were around 350 priests, who could actually participate in the protest but the COVID-19 protocol saw around 100 of them taking part in the protest. The samithi leader said any attempt to impose the uniform Mass system would be resisted.

The day-long fast was staged even as the 30th Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church was in progress at the church headquarters at Mount St. Thomas in Kakkanad, near here. The community of priests had earlier submitted a memorandum to the Synod raising the same demand.