The Kerala Catholic Bishop's Council (KCBC) has openly declared that they will not support any political parties in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In the circular released by KCBC on March 26, the church pointed out the need to elect those who will promote unite, secularism and democracy.
The KCBC, the regional bishops’ council in Kerala, is constituted under the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI). The circular will be read in every Latin Catholic, Malankara Catholic and Syro Malabar Catholic church across the state next Sunday. Catholics in Kerala constitute 50 percent of the 61.41 lakh Christians in Kerala.
“The Catholic church does not have affiliation with any factions, parties or candidates contesting for elections. Nor do we indulge in the political ideologies of church’s followers. But the Catholic Church has a responsibility to bring those candidates who will work for the unity and comprehensive development of the country. The church will always take stand with the poor and marginalised of the country,” states Archbishop M Soosa Pakiam, president of KCBC.
In the circular, KCBC also noted that “the country will be in danger if those political parties and persons who encourage ideologies and take political stand that shake the basic foundation of the Constitution comes to power,” Pakiam wrote.
“Nobody should be socially excluded or manhandled for eating the food they want, in the name of caste, religion or economic condition,” the archbishop stated in the circular.