WHO CAN PREVENT SPLIT IN SYRO MALABAR CHURCH

IApocalyptic Jewish Christians were the first followers of Jesus Christ. The Jewish Church grew apart in the first two centuries due to the inclusion of gentiles into it. Since then Christianity has seperated into different denominations. An estimated number of over 30,000 denominations of Christians are in the world. Catholics under Pope are the largest among them with over 1.313 billion (2017) members all over the world. There are 24 Latin Churches and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches under Vatican. All these Churches believed to have their origin from Holy Land, Roman Empire in the 1st century and according to sacred tradition Jesus Christ Himself is the founder.

Syro Malabar Church (Malabarile Suriyani Catholika Sabha) is a sui juris particular church in full communion with pope. AD 52 is considered as it's origin and Apostle St Thomas is believed as the founder of the Church. While it is based in Kerala, it has members all over India, USA, Canada, UK and Australia. Over 4.25 million members are in the Church. As in any other organisations this Church too has its cancerous growths like regional supremacy, groups, differences in liturgical rites and rift among the clergy etc. The latest development in the Church is about some land transaction. If that is the real cause or something else shall be known soon. A group of priests assembled at the headquarters of the Church and made their protests against the Major Archbishop. As far as the common member of the Church is concerned such an act is not ethical and unheard of. Without much of an explosion the protest ended by the interference of some bishops from the synod. There are however different versions about the settlement.

Whatever it may be, the real issue remains to be resolved. Until Mar George Alencherry is removed and a new incumbent is installed from the Ernakulam - Angamaly archdiocese the issue will not be resolved permanently. If this will take place the other group will come to the forefront and oppose. The tussle will come into open and continue and finally end up in a split. As we now see in the Orthodox Churches there will be demands for individual churches having good assets. Then all that unwanted things will take place within the church right up to the cemetery.

The interests of the priests involved in the commotion remains suspicious as it does not purport to the interest of our Lord Jesus Christ. In order to prevent these untoward things taking place something should be done right now. There are a good number of pious priests in the Church. Some of them who have leadership qualities should come to the forefront and try to settle the matter amicably. If that becomes impossible and a split is unavoidable then the weaker one may be got amalgamated to one of the existing Catholic Churches. This will prevent the formation of another Church and another fight.

It may be relevant to quote some verses from the gospel here.

"You have quite defeated God's commandment, to establish your own tradition instead." (Mark 7:9)
This is exactly what is happening in the Church now.

"I have other sheep too, which do not belong to this fold; I must bring them in too; they will listen to my voice; so there will be one fold, and one shepherd." (John 10:16)
Under this verse, the clergy is to be asked, 'where are you going?'

"And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members perish, than that your whole body go into hell." (Mathew 5:30)
Those who are at the helm of affairs should continue to ward off each destructive growth as soon as it takes place to protect the whole Church from devastation.

KV George