Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, today urged Catholics to keep Christmas low-key this year and to refrain from overspending on decorations.
Cardinal Ranjith said during a religious service marking the 75th jubilee of St. Theresa’s Church in Batapattala, Negombo, that Christmas this year should be limited to feeding the hungry.
“Given the country’s situation, one should not waste money decorating churches and other places for Christmas.” Many people are malnourished. As a result, the only thing that should be done this Christmas is to feed the poor,” he said.
He also stated that the incumbent President and the government cannot be expected to provide justice for Easter Sunday victims.
“The incumbent President does not have the people’s consent to hold the position he currently holds because he came in through the back door.” According to the select committee appointed by Parliament to investigate the Easter Sunday attacks, there could be a political motive behind the attack. The current President has promised that Scotland Yard would conduct an investigation. However, nothing has yet been done. Furthermore, I am chastised for discussing politics. “I am doing so in accordance with a statement made by the Catholic Church in Sri Lanka several years ago, as well as Pope Francis’ recent statement that the Church cannot afford to be silent where there is social injustice,” he added.