No Division in the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka: Bishops’ Conference

• Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has rendered a great service to the Universal Catholic Church and the local Catholic Church and he has stood with the sincere intention of bringing truth and justice to victims of the Easter Sunday Bomb attack” 

By Yohan Perera   

With regard to various social media reports with regard to the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka, which claimed there are various opinions within the Catholic clergy in Sri Lanka with regard to Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka yesterday said the bishops’ conference fully backs the efforts of the Cardinal.   

“Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith has rendered a great service to the Universal Catholic Church and the local Catholic Church and he has stood with the sincere intention of bringing truth and justice to victims of the Easter Sunday Bomb attack. The Bishops Conference and all Catholics in Sri Lankan Church appreciate the untiring efforts of Cardinal and we would also like to emphasize by this that we all extend our fullest support to him,” a statement from the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka said.   

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka also denied the reports that Archbishop of Colombo Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith has managed to get his tenure extended by using the Easter Sunday bomb attacks. 

“One of the false propaganda reports that is being circulated is that Cardinal Ranjith is using the Easter Sunday bomb attacks to get his tenure extended. This is totally false,” a statement issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka said.   

“When a Bishop in a Catholic diocese in any part of the world reaches the age of 75, he is obliged by the Cannon Law to submit a letter of retirement to the Pope. However, the retirement officially takes effect only after the Pope approves it as per Cannon law 401,” the statement signed by Sri Lanka Catholic Bishops’ Conference President Bishop Harold Anthony Perera and Secretary General Bishop Anton Ranjith Pilleynayagam said.   

Recent social media reports also called upon Sri Lankan Catholics to come forward to save the church.