Priest pulled off altar in latest Syro-Malabar violence
February 03, 2025
» Continue to this story on UCANews
CWN Editor's Note: An elderly priest was pulled away from the altar in the latest incident of violence in a bitter liturgical dispute within the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.
Father John Thottouppuram, who is 82, had planned to celebrate the Syro-Malabar liturgy according to the rubrics approved by the synod of the India-based Church. But angry lay people at St. Sebastian Church in Kerela pulled him away from the altar.
Months of dispute, punctuated by violence, have torn apart the Syro-Malabar Church—perhaps the largest of the Eastern churches in communion with Rome—since the Syro-Malabar bishops approved new liturgical guidelines under which the celebrant faces the altar during the liturgy. In the traditional Syro-Malabar liturgy, the priest faced the people.
The above note supplements, highlights, or corrects details in the original source (link above). About CWN news coverage.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
