The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, a prominent Christian entity in Kerala, has responded to the criticism leveled by Kerala Minister Saji Cheriyan against bishops attending Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Christmas event. The controversy unfolded when Minister Saji Cheriyan faulted Christian leaders for not addressing the issue of Manipur violence during their meeting with PM Modi, suggesting that some bishops seemed more focused on enjoying the Christmas feast extended by the BJP than addressing pertinent concerns.
In response, Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros, the Metropolitan of the Kottayam Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, articulated that participation in state or central government events is not a political gesture but a "responsibility when invited." He underscored that the Church maintains consistent relationships with both state and central governments, clarifying that their involvement in government functions is devoid of political motives. He acknowledged that if some individuals perceive political undertones in their actions, it is beyond their control.
The Metropolitan affirmed the apolitical stance of the church, emphasizing that individuals exercise their voting rights based on personal preferences. Criticizing Saji Cheriyan's remarks, he defended the church's commitment to fulfilling its societal responsibilities when invited to government functions.
Saji Cheriyan's comments faced sharp criticism from various quarters, prompting the ruling CPI(M) to distance itself from the minister's statement. The chairman of the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council, Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholica Bava, urged Minister Saji Cheriyan to retract his remarks, asserting that the church would not collaborate with the government until he does so. The CPI(M) State Secretary, MV Govindan, clarified that the remarks did not reflect the party's position and called for a review of the statements made by the minister.
Subsequently, on Tuesday, Saji Cheriyan retracted his earlier statement involving the mention of 'cake and wine'.
