Bishop recommends church-backed candidate to CPI for Kerala election
2 min read
A Catholic Bishop in Kerala has stoked controversy by recommending the Communist Party of India (CPI) to provide election ticket to a church-backed candidate forward of the upcoming legislative elections within the state.
As per reviews, Bishop Jacob Manathodath wrote a ‘confidential letter’ on January 11 to CPI State Secretary Kanam Rajendran, endorsing the candidature of a Catholic industrialist named Issac Varghese. The Catholic Bishop assured the CPI chief that the Christians would help the Communist get together if Varghese is handed an election ticket from the Mannarkkad constituency in Palakkad district.
Catholic Church distances itself from Bishop
The matter got here to mild after the letter was leaked to the media, thereby prompting folks to query the political leanings of the Church and the Bishop. While talking in regards to the controversy, one Congress supporter Mathew Xavier mentioned, “A bishop indeed has every right to choose his party, but interfering in the nomination of a political party with his recommendation is not appreciated.”
While brushing the controversy apart, the Deputy Secretary of Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC), Father Jacob Palakappilly has mentioned that the Church maintains satisfactory distance from all political events. He mentioned that it has been the long-standing place of the Church and Bishop Jacob’s feedback are his private views. Despite social media criticism, the Bishop didn’t clarify the explanation for writing such a letter.
Stance of catholic Church on Communist Parties
Ahead of the upcoming polls for 140 seat State Assembly, a number of political events are reaching out to spiritual leaders in a bid to consolidate their vote financial institution. Traditionally, the Catholic Church has opposed the thought of Christians voting/supporting the Communist events as a consequence of their underlying philosophy of atheism.
As such, Bishop Jacob Manathodath’s letter appears to be a deviation from the normal political discourse of the Church. Christians represent 18% of Kerala’s inhabitants and are believed to play a vital position in figuring out the political fortunes of the brand new authorities. The Christians within the State have conventionally supported the Congress get together.
