‘Gospel truth’ of the Cardinal

In the recent past the Cardinal has given a speech condemning the human rights promoted by the Western states and said that it was not necessary to promote human rights when the religions are in existence 

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith delivered a political speech at the reopening of Katuwapitiya St. Sebastian’s Church in Negombo. Religious leaders can make political speeches, but the issue is, that certain sections of the society think that this is gospel truth. When many Buddhist Bhikkus speak politics it is visible that they favour someone. 

The Cardinal is careful. His approach soon after the Easter Sunday attacks eased communal tension. He appealed to the Roman Catholic community to stay calm, and he commanded respect for his initial statements and actions. But he lost credibility subsequently due to his political approach. The Katuwapitiya speech shows where his political affiliation lies. 

In the recent past he has given a speech condemning the human rights promoted by the Western states and said that it was not necessary to promote human rights when the religions are in existence. He said that we should be concerned about the age-old culture of this country rather than human rights. Minister Mangala Samaraweera responded to this backward speech by issuing a Twitter message. Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa quickly defended the Cardinal’s ‘gospel truth’.

He has criticised human rights at the Katuwapitiya speech as well. He alleged that the Government has weakened intelligence services. The origin of human rights in the West was the Manga Carta signed between King John of England and the barons in 1215. It protected the rights of the Church, then under the Pope and protected the barons from illegal imprisonment. 

The rise of human right movement in the West was linked to the rise of Protestant movement against the Roman Catholic Church. In the 16th century Martin Luther, who opposed the Roman Catholic Church, was excommunicated from the Church. The Church of England was established by Henry VIII in the 16th century breaking away from the authority of the Pope. 

The milestones of the human rights movement were grabbing the power by Oliver Cromwell in England in the 17th century by expelling the King of England, English Bill of Rights in 1689, Declaration of Independence by the US in 1776 and the French Revolution in 1789. 

Human rights in the West were the result of the prolonged struggles against the authoritative kings and against the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. The Cardinal cannot place religion ahead of human rights, instead religion should be a source that ensures the human rights of the people.

I quote from Pope Francis, who is widely considered a progressive religious leader, for the knowledge of those who believe in ‘gospel truths’ of the Cardinal. “The right to life is the first among human rights”. The Cardinal is emphasising this human right of the people who lost their lives at the Easter attack. 

Therefore, he should talk in favour of human rights rather than talking against it. In our Constitution, the third paragraph is dedicated to human rights and as a nation we were a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  

During the last regime, the condition of human rights of this country deteriorated to a very low level. Lasantha Wickrematunge was assassinated. Several journalists were attacked. Some were kidnapped and were released later. Prageeth Eknaligoda disappeared. Thajudeen was murdered and they pass it off as an accident. Top police officers and medical officers tried to cover this up. 

Prisoners at Welikada were murdered in an operation. Officers of the Navy kidnapped students for ransom and later killed them. Cronies of Rajapaksa raped women and were engaged in various highhanded acts. Law was not enforced against the Rajapaksa clan and his cronies.

The intention of the Cardinal to condemn human rights is nothing else but to endorse the activities of the previous regime.

Police has identified the intelligence officers who were responsible for most of the murders and they were arrested. The story promoted by extremist elements such as Gnanasara Thero and supporters of Rajapaksa that this Government destroyed the intelligence services was false. 

Is it the duty of the intelligence services to kill the political opponents of an existing Government? Is it the duty of the intelligence services to kill and intimidate journalists? Is it the duty of the war heroes to kidnap students for ransom and later kill them? 

The Cardinal meant that these arrests weakened the intelligence services since it was the recent rhetoric. This was endorsing the activities of the previous Government.

Based on a news item by Divaina the Cardinal said that the leader of ISIS was in the custody of a powerful country and the Easter attack was an international conspiracy. It was not fit for a religious leader to get evidence from a newspaper such as Divaina since we have noticed the impact they have caused by publishing unfounded story of Dr. Shafi. The Cardinal indirectly accused the US. The Rajapaksa regime made Sri Lanka aligned with China. The US told us to settle things with India during the time of J.R. Jayewardene. The US became interested in Sri Lanka after Rajapaksa made Sri Lanka aligned with China. However, in this power struggle it is the policy of the Rajapaksa clan to blame the US in public. The Cardinal follows the same.

President Sirisena has responded to the Cardinal’s speech by saying that politicians go before the people and they are prepared to go home if the people wants so. However, Cardinals are appointed by the Pope and they are not required to go before the people and would not go home easily.

We understand the grief of the Cardinal. We understand the grief of the Christians who faced this tragedy. We understand the grief of Muslims who lost their property and who were suppressed. We know that the President has betrayed his responsibility. We know that the President and the Prime Minister have not taken prompt action when the communal riots were erupted. 

The President and the Prime Minister do not utter a strong word in favour of communal harmony let alone the action. We are disappointed with them. We also feel sorry that the Cardinal of the country has become a political voice of someone else.