A group of Catholic priests and activists have written a letter to Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith urging him to refrain from using his position to bring the Catholic faith into disrepute, to mislead Catholic faithful and to undermine the human rights framework and discourses which have universal applicability, including to Sri Lanka, and which have been welcomed by successive Popes.
Cardinal Malcom Ranjith
“Instead, please support, encourage and lead the faithful, including the clergy, religious and laity, to become more aware of human rights and get involved in struggles for human rights, in line with the 2013 pastoral letter’s call to “collaborate with God in preserving the dignity and the rights of all,” not to say all the broader Catholic teachings related to human rights,” the letter says.
The full text of the letter and its signatories are as follows:
11th October 2018
His Eminence,
Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith,
Archbishop’s House, Borella,
Colombo 08,
Sri Lanka
Your Eminence,
Human Rights are integral to Christian faith. As Catholic Clergy, Religious and Laity from different Catholic dioceses and different congregations in Sri Lanka, we were shocked at some of your recent comments saying that there was nothing called ‘human rights,’ that human rights came recently, that they constitute a new western religion, meant for those without a religion, that they are a myth to be “careful” about, and that those who believe in (and practice) a religion don’t need to talk about human rights.
We have also read the ‘clarification’ you provide to the Daily Mirror and comments by your secretary, Rev. Fr. Subasinghe, which in no way provide a different interpretation of your comments in the homily, and which appear, overall, to be aimed at undermining the human rights discourse and frameworks. We are deeply disappointed that nowhere in the 12 minutes of your speech do you explain the strong Catholic teachings on human rights. While you highlight that “replacing religion with human rights is not what is to be done,” what you seem to be advocating for is to “replace human rights with religion,” despite oppressive and discriminatory past and present practices of religions, including Catholicism, not to mention complicity with perpetrators. We note that even before this, you have implied human rights are a western imposition that might damage our culture.
Human rights is about all human beings being able to live in dignity, without discrimination, want or fear. Which is very much in line with our faith as Catholics that all human beings are equal and were created in the image of God. Human rights play a key role in Catholic Social Teachings. The principle of human rights is universal, insists on freedom of religion and belief for all, captures fundamental teachings of religious and spiritual traditions about human dignity, equality etc., but also challenges discriminatory and oppressive past and present practices of religions including Catholicism.
In 1979, Pope John Paul II described the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as a “real milestone on the path of the moral progress of humanity” and in 1995, that it “remains one of the highest expressions of the human conscience of our time.”
‘Ecclesia in Asia,’ from Pope John Paul II after the Asian Bishops meeting in 1998, recognizes that “(t)he various international declarations on human rights and the many initiatives which these have inspired are a sign of growing attention on a worldwide level to the dignity of the human person,” together with the “need for all God’s people in Asia to come to a clear awareness of the inescapable and unrenounceable challenge involved in the defence of human rights.”
More recently, we are heartened and instructed by many pronouncements of Pope Francis in relation to human rights. (For example, “Let us all work decisively so that no one is excluded from the effective recognition of their fundamental human rights” on 2016 international human rights day). This year, in his annual address to the ambassadors accredited to the Vatican, Pope Francis chose to focus on the UDHR on its 70th anniversary, affirming its preamble that “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.” He went on to say that “(f)rom a Christian perspective, there is a significant relation between the Gospel message and the recognition of human rights in the spirit of those who drafted the UDHR,” that “they [rights in the UDHR] were proclaimed in order to remove the barriers that divide the human family.” Pope Francis insists that “to speak of human rights means above all to restate the centrality of the human person, willed and created by God in his image and likeness” and that “traditions of individual peoples cannot be invoked as a pretext for disregarding the due respect for the fundamental rights proclaimed by the UDHR.”
We are also reminded that the 2013 Pastoral Letter by all the Catholic Bishops in Sri Lanka, to which you are also a signatory, has a dedicated chapter on human rights, which asserts that “any cases on the violation of fundamental rights need to be courageously looked into” and that “programmes of formation of the general public on fundamental rights and their inalienable value should be priorities for Sri Lanka.”
As Sri Lankan Catholics, we recognize the relevance and applicability of universally recognized human rights to Sri Lanka. And that promoting and protecting the human rights of all is a fundamental and integral vocation of all Catholics, along with others of different religious beliefs and those with no religious beliefs.
We see your comments as your personal opinion. We find it difficult to believe your comments represent the faith of the Catholics in the Archdiocese of Colombo and we are conscious that you don’t represent in anyway the other 11 Catholic dioceses, or the many Catholic Religious Congregations and Lay movements in Sri Lanka.
We appeal to you to refrain from using your position to bring the Catholic faith into disrepute, to mislead Catholic faithful and to undermine the human rights framework and discourses which have universal applicability, including to Sri Lanka, and which have been welcomed by successive Popes. Instead, please support, encourage and lead the faithful, including the clergy, religious and laity, to become more aware of human rights and get involved in struggles for human rights, in line with the 2013 pastoral letter’s call to “collaborate with God in preserving the dignity and the rights of all,” not to say all the broader Catholic teachings related to human rights.
We look forward to a response from you.
Respectfully yours in Christ,
- Rev. Sr. Noel Christine Fernando
- Rev. Fr. Nandana Mantunga, Director, Human Rights Office
- Rev. Fr. J.M. Joseph Jeyaseelan, CMF
- Rev. Fr. F. J. G. Croos (Nehru)
- Rev. Fr. .V.Yogeswaran,s.j
- Rev. Fr. Jeyabalan Croos
- Rev. Fr. Sarath Iddamalgoda
- Rev. Fr. S. Jayawardena
- Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Fernando, OMI
- Rev. Fr. Eric Lakman, OMI
- Rev. Fr. Sriyan
- Rev. Fr. Gerard Rosairo, OMI
- Rev. Fr. Ashok Stephen OMI, Attorney-at-law, Executive Director, Centre for Society and Religion
- Ms. Melanie Pereira
- Mr. Aruna Shantha Nonis
- Mr. Edward Mariathas
- Mr. Herman Kumara
- Mr. Philip Setunga
- Ms. Deanne Uyangoda
- Ms. Marisa De Silva
- Mr. Nilshan Fonseka
- Mr. Ruki Fernando
- Mr. M. Ratnasabapathy
- Mr. Johann Peiris
- Ms. Kshama Ranawana
- Mr. Arjuna Ranawana
- Annemari de Silva
- Melanie Jayawardena
- Rohan Jayawardena
- NP Bulathsinghala
- Kathy Bulathsinghala
- Tasha Bulathsinghala
- Asantha Sirimanne
- Anoushka Wilson
- Raisa Wickrematunge
- Masha Fernando
- Coralie Pietersz
- Rihan Ayamperuma
- Luwie Ganeshathasan
- Prof Wilfred Perera
- Navin Perera
- A. M. De Alwis
- Indran Amirthanayagam
- Brian Emmanuel
- Catherine Mack
- Tyronne Paiva
- Eshantha Joseph Peiris
- Sanjay Cangasabey
- MJA Stanislaus
- Crystal Koelmeyer
- P R Canagaratna
- Eugenie Mack
- Maureen Ernest
- Fr Aloysius Pieris
- Matilda Lazarus
- Lucille Abeykoon
- Shivantha Rathnayake
- Dulan de Silva, Chairman Give2Lanka (Gte) Ltd
- Joanne Senn
- Sandun Thadugala, A Catholic Human Rights Activist
- Chandrika Gadiewasam, writer
- P Selvaratnam, Women for Justice and Peace Sri Lanka
- Rev Fr R Augustine
- Prema Gamage
- Caryll Tozer
- Dr Mario Gomez
- Suren D Perera
- Emil van der Poorten, Supporter of Civic and Human Rights
- Dinushika Dissanayake
- Sr Nichola SCJM
- Peter Rezel
- Godfrey Malarnesan
- Fr Pan Jordan OP, Coordinator, Pax Christi, Queensland
- Chantal Cooke
- Fr J M Joseph Jayaseelan CMF
- Francis Raajan
- Amalini De Sayrah
- Kshama Ranawana
- Fr. Jeevantha Peiris
- Nathan Koblintz
- Nadeesh Jayasinghe
- Anupama Ranawana
- Nandini Gunawardena
- Isha Miranda
- Nadine Vanniasinkam
Catholic Tamil / October 12, 2018
Its time all Catholics petition the Pope to remove this Cardinal immediately from his post. He is not serving Christ or the Church, he is serving Mahinda Rajapakse.
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Champa / October 12, 2018
Catholic Tamil
That means he is not allowed to talk the truth, is he?
You expect the Archbishop to dance to the tunes of Westerners and NGOs, don’t you?
When he didn’t you find fault with him and attach his name with MR?
I am curious, give me one example as to how he served MR?
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Catholic Tamil / October 13, 2018
This Cardinal is a liar and not suitable to hold this important position. He even lied to the media saying that “there were no attacks on Christian and Muslim places of worship” when there were ample evidence shown on TV and print media. What truth did he speak, he spoke words that would support Racist Mahinda Rajapakse’s ideas.
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Champa / October 13, 2018
Catholic Tamil
Check the veracity of your utterances before publishing lies.
The Archbishop never said “no attacks on Muslim places of worship.” You have ADDED that part. He only said “no such attacks on Christian churches.”
This is what happened.
A self-proclaimed Christian Attorney Lakshan Dias once stated at a TV show on Derana that 20 churches were under attack, obviously to incite Christians against Buddhists in the aftermath of the attacks on Muslim businesses in 2017.
This prompted the President to check the veracity of this allegation with the Archbishop who denied of any such attacks.
The timely intervention of the Archbishop prevented a possible religious riot between Christians and Buddhists.
I am not surprised that those who try to create deliberate religious tension in Sri Lanka for NGO funds, are not happy with the Archbishop of Colombo for working strenuously to maintain the harmony and goodwill between Christians and Buddhists while being outspoken when and where necessary for the best interest of our motherland.
I am sure the international community and the Diplomatic Corps can clearly see that it is the Archbishop of Colombo who is instrumental in keeping cordial relations between Christians and Buddhists in Sri Lanka and thereby receive lot of respects from Buddhists.
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oldcodger / October 13, 2018
Champa ,
Do not lie in public. The Church in Avissawella was attacked in 2013.
Karuwalagaswewa (2017)
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Buddhists-destroy-a-church-in-Sri-Lanka.-Christians-continue-to-pray-under-a-tree-39658.html
Homagama:
http://ftp.lankabusinessonline.com/news/catholic-church-torched-in-sri-lanka/141063676
Angulana:
https://www.queenofangels.lk/index.php?act=events-angattack20130606
” he has not heard of churches being harmed to such an extent. “I don’t know where those statistics came from.”
““I do not know whether fundamentalist Christian groups may have attempted to establish churches and such in certain places or attempted to gather members in places they do not have members and were aggrieved.”
“He stated there have definitely been no reports of such incidents occurring at Catholic churches in the Western Province, of which he is in charge of. ” (Ada Derana)
This fake Cardinal, who is just as bad a liar as you, clearly needs to do some reading about his own diocese. Also, it is shocking that he condones attacks on non-catholic Christians.
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Champa / October 13, 2018
old codger
Talk to the point man.
The Archbishop’s reference was made in reply to Lakshan Dias’s allegation that 20 Churches were attacked in 2017.
You are talking about something happened in 2013 of which action had been taken.
And there were some tension between villagers and the church in Karuwalagaswewa in January 2017 against forcible conversion of Buddhists which was controlled before it spread.
When the tension between Muslims and Sinhalese waned, Dias tried to capitalize the fragile situation to create a new tension between Christians and Buddhists which was thwarted by the Archbishop of Colombo. After that there was no talk about it.
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oldcodger / October 13, 2018
Chump,
The point is that the Cardinal and you are both Liars.Whether attacks happened in 2013 or yesterday is immaterial.
You are a fool if you believe Christians are free to to practise their faith in a country that doesn’t even allow some BUDDHISTS to worship!
What the hell is “forcible conversion”? Can any sane person be converted against his will? If any Buddhists are converted, (they are of course) , it is because of the parasites in yellow who prey on their ignorance, doing no useful work but demanding food and comforts even in poor villages. Idiots like you should be looking at why these people change their religion.
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Champa / October 13, 2018
old codger
My comment started as a reply to what Catholic Tamil said about the Archbishop. Your additions are not relevant my reply.
Yes forcible conversions are going on all over the country. The poor were given money and food if they embrace Christianity. They abuse poverty which is the easiest way to convert Buddhists to other religions.
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old codger / October 14, 2018
Champa,
“The poor were given money and food if they embrace Christianity. ” Yes, that is the essence of Christianity, helping others.
Extremists like you should ask yourselves why the Buddhist establishment does not feed the poor Buddhists? What happens to all the billions collected by temples like the Kalutara Bodhi, Kataragama, etc? Why is it not distributed among smaller poorer temples? Many monks travel in limousines.
The Christians too get donations, but they help their poor, and the priests don’t get rich.
“Yes forcible conversions are going on all over the country.” If this amounts to giving people money, what is stopping the Buddhists from doing likewise?
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meenachchi / October 14, 2018
Oldcodger,
I am sure champa will run away soon, without answering you, because she is exposed as a liar.
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Anonymous / October 14, 2018
Champa, please don’t lie to us watch documented proof of attacks on Christians in Sri Lanka https://youtu.be/8S_YRGybdjw
https://youtu.be/SDtgpaB_mCU
Don’t try and fool people with your lies
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Native Vedda / October 13, 2018
Catholic Tamil
–
Did any Tamil/Hindu religious heads condemn the atrocities committed by LTTE or by other groups? Did Muslim religious leaders condemn atrocities committed by the state and Muslim Home Guards? Has ever the Mahasanha condemned Sinhala/Buddhist fascists and state for their major share of atrocities?
Why just pick on this humbug?
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Catholic Tamil / October 13, 2018
Native Vedda
Did the Mahanayakes condemn the attack by Buddhist Monks of Muslim places of worship? The discussion is about the Cardinal. Be focused.
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Native Vedda / October 14, 2018
Catholic Tamil
–
No it’s not about just the cardinal.
It’s about human rights or lack of it of every person in this island irrespective of religious affinity.
My point is that the religious leaders and their flock have their own interest and they don’t give two hoots about ordinary innocent people who are usually at the receiving end. Don’t just single out one saffron crook among many.
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Native Vedda / October 14, 2018
Catholic Tamil
–
No it’s not about just the cardinal.
It’s about human rights or lack of it of every person in this island irrespective of religious affinity.
My point is that the religious leaders and their flock have their own interest and they don’t give two hoots about ordinary innocent people who are usually at the receiving end. Don’t just single out one saffron crook among many.
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Samuel Jayaweera / October 13, 2018
Like it was the case with that Iththakande Hamuduruwo, Rajakasehse should have offered perks the kind of Priest to be that servile and nodd the head and anything else to the tune of vicious politicians.
Else, he perfectly know the manner that Rajaksehs treated the Muslim Srilankens with all varioius racial means also taking the live sof some in Darga town. That alone, if this priest a good and kind fellow should see it as low and inhuman acts. All these abusive nature of Rajakshes sent a message across the world, that they are beyond all ethics and morals.
And the journos left lankens soil escaping their lives from Babarian acts of Gotabaya the powerful brother of former lanken Mugabe- also made the vicious picture larger to the world. All in all, then the world pointed their finger at us asking to improve our human right.. basic human right by 2015.
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Rasika / October 12, 2018
Cardinal’s Cardinal is Mahinda
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Lapatiya / October 13, 2018
Bengamuwe Nalaka + Nanasara + Iththakande Saddatissa + Magalkande Sudantha + Akmeemana Dayaratna + Narahenpita Nurse Saadu + Madagama Abayatissa = Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith
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Anonymous / October 14, 2018
Catholic Tamil 100% agree we need a movement to report this evil cardinal to the pope and call for his excommunication #PopeFrancis #Excommunication #Vatican
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Eric / October 12, 2018
He is on the pay list of Mahinda, millions would have been exchanged.
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Champa / October 12, 2018
Eric
When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser. – Socrates.
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old codger / October 13, 2018
Champa,
Birds of a feather flock together, The Cardinal is a barefaced liar. Just like you.
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Champa / October 13, 2018
old codger
Oh, yeah, if we keep quiet letting lies become truth, we are good.
The moment if we attack lies, we are liars.
Unlike you, I always provide proof of what I say. I can see that you have difficult in digesting the truth. So you resort to slander.
This is the only country where slandering and defaming religious leaders are allowed.
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oldcodger / October 13, 2018
Champa,
“This is the only country where slandering and defaming religious leaders are allowed.” To start with, you will only see this on CT, not the Daily Noise or the Broken Mirror.
What is so special about religious leaders? You like their funny hats? Or their bald heads / pirith nools/ holy water? Are they more godly than you? You should remember the monk who raped a child in London, the one who killed a policeman, and of course the thug currently serving his 6 years. Then there is the Australian Cardinal and Irish priests on trial for child abuse. You think that is “slander”? What an ignorant dope you are.
Is the above enough “proof” for you?
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Richard / October 12, 2018
Mangala is right when he said the Cardinal is trying to be a populist. He agreed with President Sirisena on Capital Punishment, then went very silent when the Pope spoke against it. To be popular with the Mahanayakes, the Cardinal spoke against equal status for all religions under the new constitution and insisted on the present status quo which guarantees the foremost place for Buddhism. I remember sometime ago the international community were harping on investigating religious intolerance in SL as some churches, mosques and temples were attacked by extremists mobs that included monks. The Cardinal responded by saying no Catholic churches were attacked, which was not true. He also went on to say that there were ‘new’ christian churches outside the main christian faith that was popping up in SL which were creating issues for the majority Buddhists and thus the fracas. In other words, he too is intolerant of other faiths and agree with the mob that attacked those ‘new’ faiths? Now, he is again buttering the Buddhists by saying a country where Buddhism is practiced does not need to be taught ‘human rights’. During the Rajapakse regime, he spoke against investigation of those who disappeared during the war, again to be popular with the majority, disregarding the sufferings of the families looking for closure. Then there was the christmas tree fiasco and many more controversial statements by our Cardinal, who seem to be high on something…………….possibly pulling a joint before he dreams of these stupid things.
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Sinhala_Man / October 12, 2018
Dear Richard,
.
Thanks for compiling this catalogue. Every item is true and valid; of course, there may be some that you have missed; as for me, I have better things than to do than study the abuses by these corrupt clergy.
.
Of course there are saintly followers of all religions – and non-religions. I wonder if the preponderance of humbugs in religions is the result of making it compulsory that every student should not only study a religion, but pass it at O. Levels, to be considered to have completed the first level of education. The only other subjects accorded such status are the Mother Tongue and Mathematics.
.
To be considered to be really religious, most Sri Lankans consider it necessary to hate other religions.
.
Another curiosity: you ask people what they think will happen after death? Do you think that Prof. David Goodall was justified in euthanising himself at age 104? Do you think that a minor rape victim being given a morning after tablet is advisable? Few even think before they start their answer: “My religion says that . . .”
.
Finally, however, thanks to the 85 religious Catholics who have come forward to defend common decencies.
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ala / October 12, 2018
I posted a comment in Daily Mirror(not published) that Cardinals views on the subject matter would lead to a division within the catholic church and catholic priests will take to the streets and catholic priests will also lose their dignity like Buddhist clergy. Gradually it is coming to a point that catholicism will also lose its relevance and dignity under the leadership of his eminence. Pandering to political agendas should be avoided by catholics clergy for the sake of religion.
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Raymond / October 12, 2018
Please – why not publish it here?
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Burt / October 13, 2018
The third grade tabloid “Daily Mirror” does not publish any post of value. Its a gutter news paper.
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Sunil / October 13, 2018
Yes Daily mirror only publishes comments that fit their agenda…
I too have had this problem.
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oldcodger / October 13, 2018
The Daily Mirror can’t even write proper English.
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Champa / October 13, 2018
Obviously, as a mainstream newspaper “Daily Mirror” seems to have some standards of the comments they publish.
I have seen comments attacking and slandering politicians. Understandably such liberality has not been extended to religions and religious leaders. Fair enough.
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Champa / October 12, 2018
What a joke!!!!!!!
Who are this “group of Catholic priests and activists??”
Before dictating terms to The Most Reverend Malcolm Cardinal Ranjit, Archbishop of Colombo about human rights, they should first learn “what are human rights!”
Human rights are shared values such as; fairness, equality, independence, dignity and respect which are also the fundamental features of ANY religion.
Which one come first? Religion or Human Rights?
Buddhism, the Old Testament and the New Testament came first to the world well before Westerners even talk about human rights.
I would say the religion was the basis of human rights.
Religion and human rights are inseparable. They talk about the same values.
In Sri Lanka, by birth, almost all people have a religion which teaches about “social values,” the same of which are labelled by the Western countries as “human rights.”
How could this group of people, obviously who knows nothing about human rights or religion, urge the Archbishop to refrain from using his office to preaching about religious values?????
What’s wrong with talking about “those values” as Archbishop of Colombo?
How could that be undermining human rights?
Instead, The Reverend Archbishop had tried to point out that Sri Lankans are actually strengthening, nurturing and protecting the culture of human rights by actively practicing and following their religion, and therefore there is no need for the Westerners to teach them what is human rights.
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oldcodger / October 12, 2018
Champa,
“Who are this “group of Catholic priests and activists??””
Can’t you read? Those are real names. You may not have heard of them, since as a Sinhala racist you don’t move in those circles.They have openly opposed the Cardinal.
When you put your real name online, you just MIGHT get the same respect.
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Richard / October 13, 2018
Champa, are you living in Sri Lanka or Mars? Where do you see human rights practiced in Sri Lanka? Have you spoken to the parents of the 11 youth who were abducted and allegedly killed by the Navy hierarchy and the CID is prevented by the ‘President’ himself from arresting the top culprit who protected one of the suspects and allowed his escape when the latter was warranted ? Same goes for the murders of ruggerite Thajudeen, Lasantha, Ekneliyagoda, Roshan, Welikada inmates and many who surrendered after the war and now gone missing and cannot get a proper investigation to their deaths. So don’t these people and their families have human rights in your ‘religious paradise’ that don’t need western countries to teach human rights?
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Champa / October 13, 2018
Richard
“Allegedly” means NOT PROVEN
It is only an artificial suspicion and a part of deliberate maligned witch-hunt against Security Forces and former top brass of Army, Navy and Airforce who worked hard to eliminate LTTE.
All other cases listed in your comment were already finalized long time ago but “re-opened” for political purposes to punish Military Intelligence.
There is no evidence that Ekneligoda was killed. People have seen him in Brussels and Paris.
Prabhakaran never surrendered and until his death he didn’t allowed any of his cadre to surrender. Based on their confessions, the low ranking LTTE cadre who were captured were rehabilitated and released to the civil society while the hardcore terrorists who revealed the serious crimes they committed were sent to jail.
Some LTTE provincial leaders who genuinely assisted the Army to vanquish LTTE by providing inside information were rehabilitated and absorbed to the mainstream politics.
Those who claim to be missing have migrated to various countries which can easily be proved with the assistance of foreign governments.
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Aelajo / October 12, 2018
This is good. It’s time to remind the Cardinal about basics which he seems to have forgotten.
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jim softy / October 12, 2018
We should not forget the services Malcom Ranjith has rendered to the state. He did not speak out about the war unlike the former Mannar Bishop. We need people like him to keep the image of the country untainted.
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bla bla / October 13, 2018
Jim
“We need people like him to keep the image of the country untainted”
It is not a duty of a Cardinal to protect a rogue state. Then there is conflict of interests and if so he should denounce his title of a church and become a ‘patriot’ and cover all nefarious activities in the name of the country.
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Jim Softy / October 13, 2018
I never said it is the ‘duty ‘ of cardinal to protect a rogue state. Don’t infer anything I did not say. All I said is what he has done. That’s all.
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dharma / October 12, 2018
BISHOP of srilankan is very communal person was with former president mr Rajapaska and killed the civilian as LTTEhe is the person bring the religion to politics same as monks. please keep the religion away from politics. God bless all religion. bishop got car from former president mr Rajapaska.
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Goraka / October 12, 2018
The Catholic Church has never able to control their priests from sexually abusing children. They are still sweeping under the carpet.
How can you expect them to honour human rights!
The Church has become a bunch of free-loaders and sexual predators whose words does not mean much, except for the naïve worshippers.
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Alfi / October 12, 2018
Only those are Catholics , Those people are depending on NGO man funds .who care those buggers .
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Amarasiri / October 12, 2018
Dear Group of Catholic Priests and Activists ,
RE: Catholic Priests And Activists Urge Cardinal To Refrain From Using His Office To Undermine Human Rights
“A group of Catholic priests and activists have written a letter to Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith urging him to refrain from using his position to bring the Catholic faith into disrepute, to mislead Catholic faithful and to undermine the human rights framework and discourses which have universal applicability, including to Sri Lanka, and which have been welcomed by successive Popes.”
The Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, is still stuck in the two millennia of Catholic and Papal Traditions, aspires to be infallible, as he aspires to be the Infallible Pope.
Let’s see what the Catholic Church had achieved over the past two millennia, after taking over from the Romans.
-Removed freedom of religion
-Accused the Jews of killing Jesus, their God, when in fact it was the Romans, Italians, who killed Jesus, per the New Testament
-The Crusades
-The decimation and annihilations of native peples, especially in South and Central America.
-The Inquisitions, and the admission that Galileo was right, and ……
Thanks for urging Cardinal Malcolm Ranjit to rethink his viewpoint from his training in the Catholic Church, where he is thoroughly brainwashed, like his contemporaries from the other religions. Did the Catholic Church practice the religion properly, with all the confusion of the Trinity, Virgin Birth and Rising from the Dead?
In any case, how has the Catholic Church performed on human rights and religious rights over the past 2,000 years? Inquisitions, decimation of the natives, burning of the heretics, abuses of human rights genocides etc?
Christopher Hitchens – Shame of the Catholic Church –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZsb_QQ5vVA
Part of the 2009 Intelligence2 debate – the Catholic Church is a force for good in the World.
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Amarasiri / October 12, 2018
Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith,
I like your kit and the the hat. You look like a bird, a cardinal.
https://www.thespruce.com/thmb/3ene7AxQ4oCRC6FDt-ePdC2IWXE=/1500×1000/filters:fill(auto,1)/northern-cardinal-male-58a6dae73df78c345b5f3610.jpg
But the birds do have some ethics and bird rights rules as well, Can you learn from the birds, instead of from the Popes about human rights?
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Raman / October 12, 2018
That seems to be a goodly number of signatories who have put their names down.
Anyhow, the signatories must be congratulated for demonstrating that they are capable of independent thinking and are not cowed down by spiritual authority. It is clear that the Cardinal’s speeches fly in the face of his own leader Pope Francis’s attitudes.
Now, it is time for the Buddhist clergy and laity to write to the Mahanayakes on the subject of Hitler-worship, political monks et al.
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Real Revolutionist / October 12, 2018
This voice of fake HR bodies against Rev. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith was expected much earlier.
What Rev. Malcom Ranjith has been correctly doing is preventing disreputation of the Buddhism inspired majority community in Sri Lanka & its security forces by a handful of Tamil diaspora inspired unprofessional HR activists.
At any circumstances it did not amount to undermine Christian thought of human rights.
A question must be asked especially from western Christian nations that, had their militaries ever been perfect when fighting wars in & out of their territories.
We, the peace loving people of Sri Lanka irrespective of their social differences uphold the bold decision taken by Rev. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith.
We urge fake HR activists to refrain from interfering with Rev. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith’s endeavors to uphold/maintain peace in Sri Lanka.
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thondamany / October 12, 2018
Where were these champions of Human Rights? When S.J.Emmanuel declared ruthless Prabakaran was like Jesus Christ.
The line of divine mediation ran from Chandrakanthan through Emmanuel to Rayappu Joseph. For the first two, Pirabhakaran was “Jesus Christ”. The assimilation of “duce-fuerher” with the divine was thus achieved.
As for Rayappu, to whom did he take Sri Lanka’s most venerated marian Statue for protection? The Mother was made to join her son Pirabhakaran the “duce-fuerher” the Divine.
Where was HUMAN RIGHTS when Emmanuel deceptively used his priestly ordination crossed with immunity & impunity the great divide of orthodoxy & heresy, when he stated “Pirabhakaran was JESUS CHRIST”, LTTE are soldiers of “CHRIST” & suicide bombers are Catholic martyrs worthy of Catholic burial..
His one foot was with the Kingdom of God & the other was poised to set down on an earthly Kingdom of Tamil Eelam & all this took place under the cloak & cover of his Catholic priesthood.
Where were this bunch of Catholic Priests & Activists (now urging the Cardinal to refrain) when these very bunch remained MUTE like church MICE, in the face of these abominations?
For these bunch Eelam & the violence that came with it was seen a “lesser evil” that a major split in its own ranks. To this bunch, had nothing to loose by the “dismemberment ” of Sri Lanka.
CAN THIS BUNCH EVER HAVE A NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS?
“kill them all ,said the Lord”, I will recognize those who are mine (papal legate Arnaud-Amaury).
No wonder this Bunch are ready to prostitute & Oppose the Cardinal for material gains.
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Estate Labourer / October 12, 2018
I think about a year ago, or possibly a bit earlier than that, I described Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith as ‘a political animal’ in the comments section of an article in CT. Many people disapproved of this, giving a ‘thumbs down’ sign. Now you know who was right!
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Estate Labourer / October 13, 2018
Some people will never learn; their skulls are too thick!
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Real Revolutionist / October 13, 2018
Estate labourer
Though interconnected there’s a gap; a wide gap between politics & human rights.
Some (like Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith) may do politics for human rights & some (like you) do human rights for politics.
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JD / October 12, 2018
Wow, this Cardinal has to listen, to the Almighty, to the Pope , to the Bible and to those politically motivated priests. What way to implement human rights simply because he was talking against protestants. IF this Cardinal is removed, Sri lanka should follow the chinese policy. that is the govt appoits bishops and Cardinals. What the protestants say, Maithripala Should be protestants which is very happy to do that. Ranil is protestant. Even though Mahinda Rajapske is partially Catholic, Cardinal can nnot talk his mind and it should always should be partial to protestants, INGOS, NGOs … etc., I heard the present leader of the Peoples united Front thinks it is because the USA wants it that way. that is why these people criticize the Cardinal.
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JD / October 12, 2018
I am wondering where were the names of these human right defenders in those days when Josph Rayappu’s Mannar Brigade was transporting suicide belts to the South and when they were holding weapons and loots from Northern banks. did they get there share too ? One more to that, I am wondering whether these people are mostly anglicans and Tele Evangelists who work as per their “cardinal’s words.
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JD / October 12, 2018
I think these Catholic priests are right. As soon as you defend human rights you say, almgithy did not create everything. and many of the human activities, at least the human rights come to the front, are created by humans.
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JD / October 12, 2018
all the broader Catholic teachings related to human rights,” – So almighty is there ?
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JD / October 12, 2018
Are there any anglicans who say the the Queen elizabeth is responsible for everything in this world or any protestant who say the green back Dollar can do anything in this world. ThAT IS WHY THEY NEED THE HELP OF HUMANS.
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Buddhist / October 13, 2018
When are the Buddhist Monks going to take the same action that is being taken by those Catholic Priests who signed the documents? Its time the Buddhist Monks too write against the “thug like” acts of other Buddhist Priests and the inaction of the Mahanayaka Theros against these “Thug Monks”?
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Rohan Gunaratne / October 13, 2018
This moron should be thrown out at any cost.
He is a SLFP sucking lackey.
During 2005 to 2015 mara days he was silent.
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JD / October 13, 2018
IT is Protestant fight against the Sinhala buddhists, particualry Bhikkus. So, we understand that REverand Cardinal is a fiar human being, very much like a a Follower of Buddha. I remember one Late – priest MErciline Jayakody, he was not given any position because he talked to bhikkus. That is how fair the Almighty and his messengers are. What would the priest Merciline Jayakody say, it is not the Religion, it is the highly politicized Church.
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Burt / October 13, 2018
What a coincidence: Cardinal and MR have the same initials.
Malcom Ranjith
Mihanda Rajapaksa.
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Mallaiyuran / October 13, 2018
” We see your comments as your personal opinion. ” The writers of the above letter stand no ambiguous about the Catholicism, which Roman Church propagates. But some comments moved away from the letter and try to see Cardinal’s is reflecting this or another century Church. Rome has refined it from Medieval Middle East or Europe. There is no ambiguity either. The Sinhala man named Malcolm Ranjith is not representing any of those eras. He is simple representing Uncivilized Dharmapala and his age old leader Mahanama, i.e the Sinhala Buddhist terrorism.
We will change our wording to reflect the reality, instead Sinhala Buddhism which was coined by some Sinhalese to isolate them from the raging, shameful racism in the country.
Here is a discomfort emerging from Western view dominated spectators on the struggle, to drop off the Buddhism out of the phrase. The reality is, Malcolm Ranjith is Sinhala Man for him before anything else for him.
From the very beginning of 1948’s Freedom, the struggle was only about the Sinhala-Tamil. Other than Sirimavo no other political leaders in those days were Buddhist. They did not have hate against Christianity. Thus nothing was about Hinduism or Islam. While they were deporting Tamils, they strengthened their relationship with Muslim Males by allowing them to have MMDA. Only religious riots occurred in Lankawe was Muslims- Sinhala riots. It must be noted that it was started by Muslims, who are extremely religious conscious. When Sinhala Buddhist political leaders got involved in that, Sinhala Catholic leaders did not stand aside and watch but saying it was only about Buddhist Perahera. So Sinhala Buddhist as well as Sinhala Catholic leaders went to prison in that event.
Now the struggle in Ceylon is Sinhala-Tamil and Cardinal is confirming it. Further, after 1948, on Tamil side, the leader of their struggle was a Catholic Man SJV Chelvanayakam.
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Mallaiyuran / October 13, 2018
After western involvement in Ceylon Genocide only Western Media repeatedly wrote it was Buddhist- Hindu struggle. Before any of these, Western writers had already misidentified the Ceylon Civilization as Sinhala Buddhist civilization, where Sinhala Language is 40% Tamil and Ceylon Buddhist which should have been the text book example Theravada, but study Buddhist teaching but practice Hindu Temple praying & rituals. The Sari Ceremony, Kannagi Praying and Honoring Ravana are unique to Ceylon Population. The ordinary daily life of a Sinhala Buddhist is very identical of a Hindu Tamil. That is a clean evidence of Hindu Tamil civilization is the only one exist in current Ceylon. That is not similar to any other Buddhist in the world. The second round of Western Involvement in Lankawe caused to see Ceylon Civil war as Buddhist -Hindu Struggle. The Tamil Muslims standing aside on this civil war was seen as confirmation for this Western identification of the nature of the civil war, while the Catholic Christians leading the Tamil side was ignored. Many Burgers, (they too were discriminated by language), some of them were prominent in those days’ Left movements, were the ideologist behind the Sinhala Only. They prayed Jesus in Church, used English at home but Sinhala only on the road and stood strong on two feet for Sinhala Only.
Right after Old King won the war in May, 2009 the Royal family received another gift, Pope Promoted the Sinhala Man, Malcolm Ranjith as Archbishop of Colombo. Colombo celebrated in extremely grand scale the Royal Family’s latest achievement under the order of Old King. Old King went to Rome. Malcolm might have used his influence. Soon Rome uplifted Malcolm as Cardinal. Old King might have used his muscle. But back at the Island, Tamil Bishops found hard to get along with Cardinal Ranjith.
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Eagle Eye / October 13, 2018
Mallaiyuran
“Western writers had already misidentified the Ceylon Civilization as Sinhala Buddhist civilization,”
Western scholars were not dumb to misidentify Sinhale civilization as Sinhala Buddhist civilization. Demala academics tried their best to mislead Western scholars but failed. There is no Demala civilization is Sinhala. What is found in Sinhale is what was brought by Demala invaders from Hindusthan and by slaves brought to this country by colonial parasites.
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“… where Sinhala Language is 40% Tamil”
Balls! Sinhala language is not 40% Tamil. Sinhala language has been identified as an Aryan language whereas Tamil belongs to Dravidian language group. Sinhala language evolved in Sinhale and unique to Sinhale. Of course, few Tamil words may have crept into Sinhala language during the times Demala invaders ruled Sinhale.
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“…Ceylon Buddhist which should have been the text book example Theravada, but study Buddhist teaching but practice Hindu Temple praying & rituals.”
Praying is common to all the religions, not confined only to Hinduism. Buddhists do not practice inhumane rituals like slaughtering animals as sacrifice to God. This ritual of Brahamins was condemned by Buddha. Buddhists perform meritorious acts and share that merit with Gods (deviyanta pin denawa).
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Mallaiyuran / October 13, 2018
Tamil & Sinhala Telexes and Emails flew to Vatican. Representations went to Rome. At the start Cardinal Ranjith appeared to have convinced Vatican but eventually it was limited by the effort of Tamils Priests. Bishop Rayappu Joseph was an anti-Tiger stand holder. But after war his name became popular within Tamils for his services to the refugees, his appearance in LLRC and his working with TNA, specially having negotiated CM for CV with all five parties.
Now Cardinal is doing to Sinhalese the role of the Tamil Fathers’, Bishops’, Archbishops’ role to Tamils. But after the war his anti-Tamils stands were the leading. Most of the Quotes cited from Cardinals are here seen as anti-Catholic, in but reality is they all are anti-Tamil and nothing in them specific to Christianity (Catholicism). Now as the Tamils have gone to West to seek justice, Cardinal is pressed to direct his canons to West. So he is attacking the Western lead Human rights and Western religious it is which he is Cardinal. Like the New King in LG election and as he was so desperate to fell down Ranil, he was cutting the branch(Yahapalanaya) he was sitting, now the Sinhala Man Malcolm Ranjith’s extreme racism is forcing him to attack Western religion.
Tamil Priests will not lead in initiating the removal of Cardinal Malcolm as a matter of principle. Unless Sinhala Priests go ahead on that have Malcolm Ranjith removed, Old King is going to have the Catholics assent too to continue the Tamil Genocide. Remember, Sinhala leaders pledged the country’s economy and good name only to genocide Tamils. Now they would not hesitate to pledge country’s Christian Population to same purpose. We all know Don Stephen brought in MMDA.
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justice / October 13, 2018
How many of these activists have obeyed the Ten Commandments every day of their lives?
What did they do when citizens are tortured and even died in custody?
Have they objected to prisoners being held for decades without trial?
Has the cardinal ever objected?
Why no Chaplains in the armed forces – even Buddhist ones?
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Leo / October 13, 2018
I fully agree with Rev Cardinal Malcom Ranjith. He only said that these are all covered in the religions we believe and practice. In SL people can make a mountain out of a Mole hill but alas they don’t see the damage that’s happening with corrupt political system in this country and keep on voting from one corrupt party to another next time and the country is continuing to be the ONLY UNDER DEVELOPING COUNTRY IN ASIA.
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Eagle Eye / October 13, 2018
These dumbos who criticize His Eminence Malcolm Ranjith do not have something called brain in their heads to understand the message he tried to give. Cardinal did not say to throw away human rights. What he tried to do was to expose the hypocrisy among white ‘Awajathakayo’ in so called ‘Developed Countries’. White people in Western countries have committed the worst kinds of human rights violations in the world and commit gross human rights violations at this very moment but they use human rights as a political tool to create problems in countries that do not fall in line with their political agenda. That is what happened to Sri Lanka. It is an open secret that western countries pump money to INGOs and local NGOs to use Human Rights as a tool and create mayhem. May be they failed to buy Cardinal with their $$$$s. If someone is interested in human rights violations committed by western countries, read the report produced by China on Human Rights in USA.
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