The crisis-like situation that has gripped the Syro-Malabar Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly over a series of land deals appears to be inching towards a resolution with the Presbyteral Council, council of priests, toning down its demands and expressing its readiness to accept the apology of Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar George Alencherry and work to create an atmosphere of reconciliation.
“Ice is melting and a path to reconciliation is open now,” said a senior member of the Presbyteral Council after a meeting of the council that lasted nearly four hours at the Major Archbishop’s House here on Saturday. The Presbyteral Council, backed by a number of lay organisations, had earlier insisted that the Major Archbishop face civil inquiries and step aside until his name was in the clear.
An statement issued after the meeting expressed happiness that the problems were now being resolved in an amicable manner.
The meeting was comparatively peaceful with the Cardinal arriving only an hour-and-a half after it had started. But the atmosphere outside the venue was tense and was marked by pushing and shoving among those supporting and opposing the Cardinal. The police intervened on several occasions to throw out slogan-shouting laity members from the Archbishop’s House compound. Some of the members accused others of landing up at the venue from other dioceses just to cause trouble. A posse of the police was present outside and inside the compound.
After the meeting a priest said the council requested the Cardinal not to repeat his apology as he had done it already on Friday.
Chrism Mass put off
The Chrism Mass at which holy oils are blessed ahead of Holy Week has been postponed due to the preoccupation of the archdiocese with these problems, it is learnt. The Chrism Mass is usually celebrated on the Monday after Palm Sunday. However, it will now be celebrated in June, possibly on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, sources said.
