Synod's decision under fire as protest continues

Lay people as well as priests stage hunger strike before Cardinal’s house

The stand-off between the combine of laity and priests over the issue of uniform Mass celebration in the Syro-Malabar archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly continues with lay people as well as a priest going on a hunger strike before the Cardinal's house in Kochi city demanding the archdiocese should be allowed the freedom to continue with its half-century-old tradition of fully congregation-facing Mass celebration.

"Priests and lay people will strengthen their resistance against the arrogance of the synod of bishops", said a communication from the combine of priests under the aegis of Athirupatha Samrakshana Samithy (Forum for Protection of the Archdiocese) here on Sunday even as Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop and head of the Syro-Malabar Church insisted the dioceses should comply with a diktat on uniform Mass celebration.