Patriarchate denounces ‘rebellion’ of California’s Chaldean bishops
April 08, 2015
The Chaldean Catholic Patriarchate has issued a statement denouncing the “rebellion” of Bishop Sarhad Jammo, the head of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego, and of Bishop Bawai Soro, a bishop of the Assyrian Church of the East who was received into full communion with the Catholic Church and now ministers in the eparchy.
The eparchy (Eastern Catholic diocese) ministers to Chaldean Catholics in the western United States.
Referring to Chaldean priests who left Iraq without permission from their superiors, the patriarchate said that the eparchy “welcomed rebel priests against ecclesiastical laws” and refused to implement decisions made by a recent synod of the Chaldean Catholic Church.
The Chaldean patriarchate had forbidden priests to leave Iraq without permission from their ecclesiastical superiors, and announced the suspension of those priests who fled the country. In January the Vatican ruled in favor of a priest who is currently serving in the California diocese, and had appealed his suspension. The Chaldean patriarchate has contested that decision.
The dispute between the eparchy and the patriarchate has divided the Chaldean community in California. Bishop Jammo “has expelled from his diocese all the priests and faithful who wanted to remain faithful to Mother Church” and thus caused scandal, added the patriarchate, which stated that it has brought this matter too before the Vatican’s Congregation for the Eastern Churches.
“We will defend … the rights of our glorious patriarchate until the last breath,” the statement continued. “Before taking direct action against those at fault,” the patriarchate asked the two bishops, as well as the priests, to “apologize publicly” and “regularize their situation morally and legally.”
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Further information:
- Médias Patriarcal (Chaldean Catholic Patriarchate)
- Vatican overturns Chaldean Patriarch's suspension of priests who fled Islamic State (CWN, 1/9)
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