Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil.
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement
The Syro-Malabar Church has set up a special tribunal at its headquarters in Mount St. Thomas near here, to address disciplinary issues related to liturgical matters in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese.
The tribunal that was established on Wednesday (December 18, 2024) as per directions of Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil, will have powers to impose punishment on those who are charged with ‘ecclesiastical offences’. The Major Archbishop has been vested with these rights, as per Canon laws. The tribunal will have powers to act against priests and the laity in the archdiocese, says an official release.
The special tribunal was set up in the wake of the continued opposition to the unified mass in the archdiocese, despite this form of mass ‘taking effect‘ in November 2021, and attempts by the Pope, the Apostolic Administrator and others to implement it. The opposition has led to among others, division within believers and disgrace before members of the public.
Although such tribunals are generally established in archdiocesan headquarters, it could not be done so due to the prevailing situation in the archdiocese. The tribunal will have Fr. James Mathew Pambara as the presiding judge and Fr. Jose Marattil and Fr. Joy Paliekkara as judges, says the release.
Published – December 20, 2024 02:04 pm IST
