It is sad that the people of the Syro- Malabar church, accompanied by their rebel pastors of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, are embroiled in a series of contradictions and protests, demanding the continuation of their age-old practice of celebrating the mass with the celebrant facing the altar instead of the people. This deviates from the present practice of the Novus Ordo' (New Order) mass of Vatican II, wherein the celebrant faces the people all through the Eucharistic celebrations. Even a 50: 50 compromise formula by the synod of Syro-Malabar bishops has proved fruitless, as the rebels continue with their demands for a return to the traditional way of celebrating the mass. Several attempts by the Vatican to resolve the problem have also not succeded, prompting Pope Francis to issue a stern warning to the priests and people of the Syro-Malabar rite, (with threats of expulsion), to abide by the compromise decision of the synod that permits the celebrant, to face the congregation during the liturgy of the Word (first half) and to face the altar at the time of consecration.
