08-05-2025
Pro-Synod group told not to defeat peace efforts
The Syro-Malabar Church has condemned efforts by a group, claiming to be the champions of the Church, protesting against, trying to 'manhandle' and 'abuse' Archbishop Joseph Pamplany, vicar of the Major Archbishop of the Ernakulam-Angamalay Archdiocese.
Such public protests and abuse of senior Church functionaries bring a bad name to the Church before the public, said the official spokesperson of the Church and media commission secretary Father Antony Vadakkekara in a statement on Thursday (May 8, 2025).
'Mar Pamplany was appointed to bring peace in the Mass liturgy issue and forge unity in the archdiocese. Those protesting against him in public raise the suspicion that they are working to sabotage peace efforts. How can those who view the vicar's efforts always with suspicion and try to spread misunderstanding about him be called friends of the Church,' asked Father Vadakkekara in the statement.
The One Qurbana, One Church movement, which came under official Church criticism, said it would not allow Mar Pamplany to carry out what the group claimed was 'anti-Church consensus formula' in the Mass issue. The group alleged in a statement issued by its leaders Mathai Muthirenthi and Joseph P. Abraham that Mar Pamplany was trying to protect priests, whose actions called for ouster from the Church fold itself.
The group of synod supporters said they came forward courageously to resist the rebels against the unified Mass, but their love for the Church had been questioned, leaders of the movement claimed.
The spokesperson said those who criticised Mar Pamplany must realise that the concessions being extended by the vicar of the Major Archbishop in an effort to end the disunity over the Mass issue had been authorised by the synod itself. The Archbishop must be given time to bring about peace, and until that time, wait with patience, the statement appealed to the group.
