In a bizarre turn of events Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith says not to vote for any one else other than Sajith or Anura. Essentially saying not to vote for the President. Catholic community is only 8% of the population.
What right does he have as Cardinal to say that using the church as a cover? As a Private Citizen yes. Several Catholics and clergy from several religions condemned the Cardinal’s outburst as bizarre and insulting. Coming from a religious leader is both shocking and outrageous said a retired diplomat. He told LNW the Cardinal’s conduct was totally unacceptable and improper. He recommended that the government sends an official complaint to the Vatican to Pope Francis. In addition requesting to appoint an Archbishop for Colombo who is balanced and spiritual. Not a religious leader who engages in political bickering. Malcolm Ranjith was accused for supporting the deposed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa by several people in the last presidential election. Which he has denied. Very few people now believe in his actual sincerity. They accuse him of hiding behind the red robe and slinging mud at politicians he does not favor or like. The government after the Easter Sunday attacks provided the Cardinal with Army Protection. Which he still enjoys. He should first get rid of that.
An opposition member of parliament told LNW that the Cardinal was respected so much for managing the crisis and preventing a backlash from the majority community in 2019. He is squandering all that with his supidity and choice of words. He strongly urged the President to make an official complaint to His Holiness the Pope on the conduct of the Cardinal. A Christian preacher told LNW that Cardinal should be focused on Christian teachings instead of using the church to play politics with the catholic people . This is why the Roman Catholic Church is losing their base in Sri Lanka. He should at least take a cue from the The Dhammapada: Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love. This is what is expected of a religious leader, he concluded.
Adolf.
