Kochi : Syro Malabar Media Commission has strongly condemned the actions of some rebel lay leaders who had earlier in the day burned the effigies of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri and Cardinal Mar George Alencherry.

The protest actions of the rebel lay faithful of the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, that has defied the common decision of the Church, has left a deep and lasting wound in the hearts of the faithful who relentlessly advocate the unity of the Church.

The Media Commission, in its statement, said that the actions of some rebel leaders who burned the effigies of Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches in Rome, and Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, are highly reprehensible.

Such actions, questioning the self-esteem of all the faithful, are utterly arrogant and they challenge the authority of the church. Derogatory actions against the Pope's representative to the Oriental Churches need to be viewed as a move against the Holy Father himself. Strict disciplinary action, as laid out in the canon law, will soon be initiated against those who committed this heinous disciplinary offense and those who staged it.

It is only after years of study and consultation that the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church decided to implement the Uniform Code for the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The decision has been implemented in all 34 out of the 35 Dioceses of the Syro Malabar Church.

However, it was only in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, that a dispensation was given by the Archiepiscopal Vicar on the Celebration of Eucharist against what was mandated by the Synod. The Congregation for the Oriental Churches in Rome had recently called for this dispensation to be withdrawn on the advice of the Holy Father as it is canonically invalid. It is a serious breach of discipline to hold such anti-church and anti-faith protests, as everyone is obliged to obey the directives of the Office for the Oriental Churches.

The laity is warned not to be provoked by the ongoing disciplinary violations in the Ernakulam - Angamaly Archdiocese. The anger and dissent caused by this action among the laity should be an eye-opener for the rebels. It is absolutely deplorable that the Archdiocese's pastoral centre and its grounds are being used as a venue for such anti-church activities.

The Secretary of Media Commission concludes the statement by saying that it considers the current scenario as an indication that it is now high time to put an end to the recent increase in disciplinary violations in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly. 

Fasting and prayer are Christian ways of interceding for divine intervention. Differences and concerns are to be discussed, and the decisions of the Church authorities are to be adopted by all as they are to be seen as revealed by God. Resorting to violent and deplorable ways of protest are ways that simply show that they do not stand for God.

The Catholic faith promotes and advocates a life of holiness for its faithful. The word 'revolution' is irrelevant when it comes to bringing about changes in the Church; instead the more fitting term is ‘renewal’ in the context of the church. In revolution there is a silent approval to vicious activities; however renewal is a divine act. All those who brought about a reformation in the church were divinely enlightened people -- a fact that every Catholic is aware of.