In New Delhi, Syro-Malabar Catholics must attend Mass at Hindu temple

Published: 2007-11-15

NEW DELHI (CNS) -- An Indian church official said he was "embarrassed" by the celebration of Sunday Mass in a hall attached to a Hindu temple in New Delhi due to a dispute among the Catholic rites. Members of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church have attended Sunday Mass at the Hindu facilities since Sept. 23. Syro-Malabar spokesmen said officials at the Latin-rite St. Michael's Parish refused permission for continuation of the Eastern-rite liturgies there after the Delhi Archdiocese erected a new parish for the Syro-Malabar community. Father George Manimala, vicar of the archdiocese in charge of Syro-Malabar parishes, told Catholic News Service that the developments have been "an embarrassment for the church." Bishop Thomas Dabre of Vasai, secretary-general of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India, which serves Latin-rite bishops in India, said, "It is sad that such a thing has happened. This is a counterwitness to Christian unity."

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