Laity wants role in election of Syro-Malabar Church head

(May 23, 2011) Around 200 lay people marched on Monday to where bishops of the Syro-Malabar rite Catholic Church of India have gathered to choose a new leader for themselves, demanding they be given a say in his election. Police prevented the marchers from reaching St. Thomas Mount in Kakkanad, a suburb of Kochi in Kerala state. Some 44 out of 46 bishops from the eastern rite Church’s 29 dioceses are at the May 23-29 synod at the headquarters of the larger of India’s two Oriental Catholic rites. The synod of bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church which began on Monday with Mass and prayers, will be electing the major archbishop for the first time. Former heads, including Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil who died on April 1^st were appointed by the Pope. The Joint Christian Council, a lay group, which organized Monday’s march, is demanding the laity’s participation in the election. Joseph Pulikunnel, a protest leader lamented saying, “The Syro-Malabar Church is meeting to elect its leader for the first time but the laity has no say in the election.” He wants the Church to elect its leader democratically, saying that laity participation would help bring transparency to the election. Church spokesman Father Paul Thelakat called the protest a publicity stunt. He said, “Only bishops are eligible to vote in the synod.