It seems the Syro Malabar Church under pressure from Islamists and lack of support from the ruling Communist Party has decided to ‘guard its official communications and religious sermons in future, reports Outlook.
A few weeks back Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt of the Pala diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church said that that non-Muslim boys and girls are increasingly becoming the victims of Narcotics Jihad along with Love Jihad in Kerala. This statement immediately caused an uproar and the Muslims in Kerala even took out a protest march against the Bishop.
After the honest yet from the Muslim perspective an incendiary statement, in a meeting held by Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) in Kochi on Wednesday, September 29 which includes bishops of Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, Knanaya Catholic and Latin Catholic churches said, In an interaction with PTI, a Church official said,“In future, our statements, speeches and responses will be guarded. We will be very cautious as we do not want to hurt the sentiments of other communities. The Church always stands for openness and strengthening the secular fabric of the society by enriching the communal harmony,”
In order to douse the fire due to the threat of reprisal the official further added that the statement made by Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt was “misinterpreted” by a section of media and politicians for serving their “narrow political and business interests” that has hurt the sentiments of people of the other community (Muslim community).
The council condemned the use of ‘controversial’ terminologies like narcotic jihad or love jihad and said “The KCBC disapproves of any covert attempts to show that there exists disunity among the Churches. The fundamental values of truth, love and justice, which the Catholic Church upholds, constitute the basis of all inter-religious dialogue and harmony among religions,”.
On September 9, Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt, speaking at an event, stated that non-Muslim boys and girls are increasingly being targeted and have fallen victims of Narcotics Jihad along with Love Jihad in Kerala and that there are specific groups operational providing assistance to carry out targeted exploitation of non-Muslim youth.
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