Sun Nov 03 18:57:19 UTC 2024: ## Rebel Group Ignites Tensions in Kerala Archdiocese by Burning Bishop’s Circular
**Kochi, November 4, 2024** – A group of lay Catholics, known as Almaya Munnettam, has escalated tensions in the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese by publicly burning a circular issued by the Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Bosco Puthur. The circular, intended to be read in churches on Sunday, November 3rd, was ignored and burned by believers in over 200 churches, according to the group.
The circular addressed ongoing controversies surrounding the unified Mass, a point of contention within the archdiocese. The Almaya Munnettam spokesperson, Riju Kanjookaran, claims that the group’s call to ignore and burn the circular was heeded by 650,000 believers, highlighting a deep divide within the Church.
Further fueling the tensions, Kanjookaran criticized the Bishop and curia members, accusing them of “arrogance” and attempting to stifle debate and dissent within the archdiocese. He declared that believers will no longer comply with directions from the Apostolic Administrator or the curia, including a newly mandated requirement for priests to face the congregation during Mass.
The Catholic Nasrani Association, a prominent organization within the Church, has responded with condemnation, calling for action against those who burned the Bishop’s circular. They view this act as disrespectful to the Pope’s representative and a damaging reflection on the Church’s image. The Association, under the leadership of M.P. George, has demanded that those responsible, including clergy members, be removed from positions of authority.
The ongoing dispute over the unified Mass and the subsequent burning of the Bishop’s circular have thrust the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese into a state of turmoil. The Catholic Nasrani Association’s call for disciplinary action against those who defied the Bishop’s authority suggests that this conflict could further escalate.
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