Kerala church slams Yechury’s remark
By IANSMonday, August 9, 2010
KOCHI - The Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Conference (KCBC) Monday hit back at the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) by asserting that the church will indulge in politics and it would be to strengthen democracy.
The KCBC’s statement came shortly after CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury blamed the church in Kerala for indulging in politics. He asked the church in Kerala to keep away from politics.
He was speaking at a press conference held in Andhra Pradesh’s Vijaywada town as part of the extended central committee meeting of the CPI-M.
Addressing the media here, KCBC spokesperson Father Stephen Alathara said Yechury’s statement deserved no reply.
“If one looks into the practice of the church all over the world, it has indulged in politics. But the only difference is that when the church indulges in politics, it would not be to support a front or a particular party,” said Alathara.
The CPI-M during the 2006 assembly polls got more than adequate support from the church in the state but after that the Catholic Church, in particular, was ignored by the party.
Christians in Kerala account for 23 percent of the 3.20 crore population. Half of the Christians in the state are catholics.
During the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front suffered a serious blow when it saw its tally drop from 19 seats (2004) to a mere four.
