By Adolf (Colombo)
Once hailed as a moral beacon and a fearless voice for justice, Colombo Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has, in the eyes of a growing segment of the public, traded his clerical robes for the garb of a partisan politician. The man who was once respected for his unwavering stance has increasingly been viewed as an attention-seeking figure, more at home in the corridors of power than in the pulpit.
His trajectory has been marked by a series of high-profile engagements with the nation’s political elite. From Mahinda Rajapaksa to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and more recently with Sajith Premadasa, Namal Rajapaksa, and even the JVP, the Cardinal has been accused of “playing politics,” issuing statements against politicians and appearing at political events that seem far removed from his spiritual duties. This constant political theater, critics argue, has eroded the moral authority he once commanded.
The Latest Controversy
The most recent flashpoint in this ongoing saga involves legal action the Cardinal is taking against Parliamentarian Chamara Sampath Dasanayake. The MP made a serious allegation, claiming that the current Army Commander visited the Cardinal on July 2 to secure an extension of his service term.
In response, the Archbishop’s office, through its media spokesperson Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, has vehemently denied the claim. Fr. Fernando insists that the Cardinal was in the Vatican attending a special meeting on that date and only returned to Sri Lanka on July 3. The Church has stated it is taking legal action, arguing that the MP is attempting to create religious discomfort in society through these false statements. This will further expose the Cardinal’s conduct in court .
Questions and Unanswered Allegations
The controversy has also brought up past allegations that continue to haunt the Cardinal’s reputation. Former Minister Ali Sabry, PC, has publicly stated that the FBI conducted a report on the Easter Sunday attacks and that there was no necessity for another investigation. It is also alleged that the report of a possible attack, which was given to security chiefs and the ministers’ security division, was sent to the Cardinal, raising serious questions about his awareness of the potential threats prior to the tragedy.
Further fueling public suspicion, it has been alleged that the Cardinal participated in meetings with police chiefs and then-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe just weeks before the attacks, where church security concerns were reportedly discussed. These revelations have led many to question what the Cardinal knew and when he knew it.
Adding to the narrative of a leader who has “discolored his robe,” questions are still being asked about why he did not deliver a mass publicly on that fateful Easter Sunday in 2019. While the Church has stated he celebrated Mass at St. Lucia Cathedral as scheduled, critics continue to speculate on his actions and the information surrounding the tragedy, viewing his absence from public view that day as suspicious.
Church Reputation in Ruins
The Cardinal has only himself to blame for this perception. By frequently stepping out of his spiritual script, he has opened himself to ridicule and accusations of being a political actor. In a country with deep religious sensitivities, a religious leader’s power lies in his spiritual authority. Once that is perceived as compromised by political ambition, as the public now sees with Cardinal Ranjith, the respect he once commanded quickly dissipates.
It is perhaps time for Pope Leo to step in and ask the Cardinal to take a back seat before he continues to damage the goodwill and moral standing of the Church in Sri Lanka. The faithful deserve a shepherd, not a politician in robes.