A schism with the Vatican is possible in the Syro-Malabar Catholic archdiocese in the southern Indian state of Kerala. The priests and laity are demanding a liturgy variant status to their traditional Eastern rite Syro-Malaba Mass. Regardless of the outcome, they’ll do what they think is right, even if it means splitting with the body Read more
Save Our Sisters (SOS), a social forum formed to support nuns, has expressed renewed hope after a top court in the southern Indian state of Kerala admitted appeals against the acquittal of Bishop Franco Mulakkal in a nun rape case. “We are glad that the high court has finally admitted the appeals,” Shaiju Antony, joint Read more
A Catholic priest in Kerala has been arrested for violating the Covid-19 advisory against conducting Holy Mass in which more than 100 people attended. Fr. Pauly Padayatti, vicar of Nithya Sahaya Matha (Mother of Perpetual Help) church at Koodapuzha near Chalakudy in Thrissur district has been arrested by the police. Despite the strict restrictions of Read more
A priest and five nuns are facing defamation charges after releasing defamatory videos of Sister Lucy Kalappura, who was expelled from her congregation early this month. Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) nun, Kalappura complained the accused used social media to falsely portray her interactions with journalists as a salacious affair. The police had registered the case Read more
Over 250 priests say they do not want Cardinal George Alencherry to be reinstated as their archbishop. Alencherry was removed from his administrative responsibilities last year after priests made public allegations that he sold off land and incurred a loss of US$10 million for the archdiocese. Now a spokesperson for the priests says the Oriental Read more
Pope Francis has restored full administrative powers of the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, in Kerala to Cardinal George Alencherry. The Cardinal was temporarily suspended following the start of a judicial proceeding that saw him involved in an alleged illegal sale of land belonging to the local Church. The Cardinal has been definitively acquitted of all charges. Read more
Newly-appointed JP Saju Cherian is the founder of the Kerala Catholic community in Palmerston North. It has 350 members. “There are two Kerala priests at St Mary’s Church on Ruahine St who support our people with their cultural and spiritual needs.” The two priests were employed after the Kerala Catholic organisation approached Bishop Charles. “People Read more
The first that I ever saw was worn by Father Lawrence, an elderly priest who said Mass for the rubber-plantation workers in the Kerala village where I spent a Catholic childhood. When he came to our house for coffee, he lifted the curiously rounded hat and bowed with grave courtesy, a gesture I remember vividly Read more
The Church in India is concerned that one of the effects of an alcohol clampdown in Kerala state will be a ban on wine at Mass. Over the next 10 years, hundreds of alcohol outlets in Kerala will be shut down and “alcohol free” days enforced. The General Secretary of the Hindu organisation SNDP Yogam, Read more
Church leaders have welcomed a move by authorities in India’s Kerala state to phase out liquor sales completely in 10 years. Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said liquor outlets will be reduced by 10 per cent each year, eliminating sales completely within a decade. Beginning next year, bar licenses will be issued only to five-star Read more