Syro-Malabar Church Clarifies on Ordination of Deacons

The Syro-Malabar Church has issued a clarification regarding recent social media discussions about the ordination of deacons within the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly. The Church stated that some posts misrepresenting the synod’s decisions on this matter are inaccurate. Father Antony Vadakkekara, the Church’s official spokesman, emphasized that the synod of bishops had engaged with representatives of priests and lay groups separately on the issue of deacon ordination.

The synod followed instructions from the Congregation for Oriental Churches in Rome, which directed the apostolic administrator of the archdiocese. According to Father Vadakkekara, deacons who signed a declaration supporting the unified Mass will be ordained as priests. However, he noted that a lack of adherence to the Church’s official stance has created obstacles to the ordination process.

The Church authorities have urged all concerned parties to remain cautious and avoid making provocative public statements that could hinder the ordination of deacons. This call for restraint comes amid ongoing discussions about the implications of the synod’s decisions on liturgical practices and the role of deacons within the Church.

Earlier, the Archdiocesan Movement for Transparency, a group opposing the synod’s decision on the unified Mass liturgy, alleged that delaying the ordination of deacons was a violation of human rights. Anna Shibi, the movement’s general secretary, claimed that the ordination process was being intentionally delayed, highlighting concerns about the rights and opportunities of deacons within the Church structure.

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