Monday, April 07, 2008

The Church needs no lesson in Nationalism

T’PURAM: The Christian Church in Kerala need not be taught nationalism by anyone, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi said on Sunday.
He was inaugurating an all-faith meeting convened to mark the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church’s St Mary Queen of Peace Pro- Cathedral at Palayam here.
There are few communities that have cultivated a sense of nationalism like the Christians in the state.
No one need to teach them nationalism, he said, referring to the recent attack on Christian educational institutions by Left students’ organisations.
There is no justification for the revengeful attacks on Christian organisations supported by the government.
The Left students’ organisations are competing with one other to launch attacks on Christian institutions. Such acts are unconstitutional and insulting, Vayalar Ravi said.
Catholicos Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, the head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, presided over the function. Uthradam Thirunal Marthanda Varma delivered the keynote address.