Catholic Bishops condemn killing of Hindu priest

by Ananth Palakidnar

The Catholic Bishops in the North and East have vehemently condemned the killing of the Hindu priest Selliah Parameswara Kurukkal at his home in Batticaloa last week.

The Catholic Bishop of the Eastern region the Rt. Rev. Dr. Kingsley Swamipillai has said that the assassination of innocent Hindu clergyman Selliah Parameswara Kurukkal could be considered a peak form of barbarism.

"Whatever the religion, a priest has an obligation to attend to the sinner or saint. Clergymen stand above all differences and boundaries to bring solace to those who go to places of worship.

The Hindu priest Parameswara Kurukkal also did his part as a clergyman when President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited Vakarai. The cold blooded assassination of Parameswara Kurukkal is against humanity.

While condemning the assassination I express my sympathies to the grieving family members of the priest, "Bishop Swamipillai said.

The Catholic Bishop of Mannar the Rt. Rev Rayappu Joseph in his condemnation said that the clergymen in the North and East played an important role in bringing relief spiritually to the civilians haunted by the ongoing warring conditions in the North and East. "The clergy-men perform their rituals to bless whoever comes to them in search of peace of mind.

The Jaffna Bishop Rt. Rev. Thomas Savuntharanayagam strongly condemned the killing of Parameswara Kurukkal and said that the assassination was brutal and barbaric.