Laity Wants Role In Archbishop Election
May 24, 2011 at 10:45 pm
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| Joseph Pulikunnel inaugurates the Dharna |
Syro-Malabar Catholics attending a parish celebration in New Delhi
Police prevented the marchers from reaching St. Thomas Mount in Kakkanad, a Kochi suburb.
Some 44 out of 46 bishops from the Church’s 29 dioceses are at the May 23-29 synod at the headquarters of the larger of India’s two Oriental Catholic rites.
The bishops will be electing the major archbishop for the first time. Previously, the pope made the appointment.
Two bishops are not attending the synod for health reasons.
However, the Joint Christian Council, a lay group, which organized the march, is demanding the laity’s participation in the election.
“The Syro-Malabar Church is meeting to elect its leader for the first time but the laity has no say in the election,” lamented Joseph Pulikunnel, a protest leader.
He wants the Church to elect its leader democratically, saying that laity participation would help bring transparency to the election.
Church spokesman Father Paul Thelakat called the protest a publicity stunt.
Only bishops are eligible to vote in the synod. “The entire proceedings are secret,” he explained.
The synod began with Mass and prayers.------
Courtesy: THE HINDU
Synod to elect new Major Archbishop
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Staff Reporter
KOCHI: A synod of the Syro-Malabar Church got under way at Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad, headquarters of the Church, on Monday with a retreat of 44 bishops to elect a new Major Archbishop to succeed Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, who passed away on April 1.
Bishop Bosco Puthur, interim administrator of the Major Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, addressed the prelates from various parts of the country. They will meet for a week to select the successor to Cardinal Vithayathil.
Mathew Vattakkuzhi and Joseph Perumattam, retired bishops, could not attend the synod as they were indisposed.
The synod had a rather tumultuous start with activists of the Joint Christian Council taking out a march from Navodaya Junction to the gates of Mount St. Thomas, alleging that the synod being held was an undemocratic process and against the spirit of the Church doctrines.
Joseph Pulinkkunnel, adviser to the council and vociferous critic of the Church hierarchy, inaugurated a dharna in which 50 people participated. They held prayers as the police kept a watch.
Joseph Velivil, working president of the council, said the Church should allow lay representatives and priests to participate in the synod, as had been the practice in the early Christian Church.
He said the Church Act should be brought into effect immediately, and the council's struggle would continue till then.
The Catholic Laymen's Association called upon the bishops in the synod to return to the true spirit of the Christian Church.
George Maliyeckal, secretary of the association, said that if an undeserving candidate was elected, he would not be acceptable to the association.
ucanews.com reporter, Kochi
India
May 23, 2011
Around 200 lay people today marched to where Syro-Malabar bishops have gathered to choose their new leader to demand a say in his election.
Police prevented the marchers from reaching St. Thomas Mount in Kakkanad, a Kochi suburb.
Some 44 out of 46 bishops from the Church’s 29 dioceses are at the May 23-29 synod at the headquarters of the larger of India’s two Oriental Catholic rites.
The bishops will be electing the major archbishop for the first time. Previously, the pope made the appointment.
Two bishops are not attending the synod for health reasons.
However, the Joint Christian Council, a lay group, which organized the march, is demanding the laity’s participation in the election.
“The Syro-Malabar Church is meeting to elect its leader for the first time but the laity has no say in the election,” lamented Joseph Pulikunnel, a protest leader.
He wants the Church to elect its leader democratically, saying that laity participation would help bring transparency to the election.
Church spokesman Father Paul Thelakat called the protest a publicity stunt.
Only bishops are eligible to vote in the synod. “The entire proceedings are secret,” he explained.
The synod began today with Mass and prayers.
Related links:Syro-Malabar prepares to elect leader
Tearful adieu to Cardinal Vithayathil
Syro-Malabar Church Gets Ready For First Assembly
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| Mathrubhumi 17/05/11 |
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