A senior communist minister in Kerala has warned that Catholic bishops “meddling in politics” will adversely affect social peace in the multi-religious polity of the state.

Thomas Isaac, Kerala’s finance minister, was speaking to ucanews.com after the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) issued a pastoral letter July 18 asking people to vote for ”good, capable and God-fearing” candidates in the upcoming elections.

The state is scheduled to have elections for village councils in September and legislative elections next year.

The pastoral letter, without naming Kerala’s ruling alliance led by the Communist Party of India (Marxists), spoke about tactics of “atheist” parties in politics.

It asked people to be vigilant against “atheists” fielding “God-fearing popular persons” as independent candidates to garner the votes from Christians.

Isaac, born in a Catholic family, said the bishops’ “meddling in politics” will have “dangerous” consequences that will destroy social peace.

“We are not against religion but we will resist the move of religious leaders interfering in politics. It’s certainly not their domain,” the minister told ucanews.com.

The letter, signed by KCBC president Bishop Joshua Mar Ignathios of Mavaleikkara, was read during Sunday Masses across the state. It explained that it was an attempt to build a society based on justice.

Father Paul Thelakat, spokesperson of the politically influential Syro-Malabar Church, said the letter in no way meddles in politics.

“The Church has every right to make its faithful conscious about the threats and dangers to the faith. When we see a trap, it’s the duty of Church leaders to warn people about that,” he said.

Source: ucanews.com

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