KOCHI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Under fire for his remarks on Sunday against bishops who attended the Prime Minister’s Christmas programme in New Delhi, Kerala cultural affairs minister Saji Cherian said on Tuesday that he was withdrawing parts of his speech referring to “cake and wine” if they caused pain to the priests. He, however, said he stood by his political stance on the alleged silence of Church leaders on attacks on Christians in the country.
Church leaders have welcomed the minister’s clarification.Archbishop and Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) president Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis, who slammed Cherian earlier in the day for his remarks, said the minister should not have made such a statement. Jacobite Church spokesperson Kuriakose Mor Theophilos also welcomed the retraction of the “indecent” remarks.
Cleemis had earlier warned that the Church would not cooperate with the government unless the minister withdrew the statement and gave an explanation.
Church leaders have welcomed the minister’s clarification.Archbishop and Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) president Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis, who slammed Cherian earlier in the day for his remarks, said the minister should not have made such a statement. Jacobite Church spokesperson Kuriakose Mor Theophilos also welcomed the retraction of the “indecent” remarks.
Cleemis had earlier warned that the Church would not cooperate with the government unless the minister withdrew the statement and gave an explanation.
