Saturday, 1st November 2014
We have been made aware of certain reports circulated among some social media titled 'Stop the Papal visit in January, MR pressurises the Church,' the National Catholic Centre for Social Communications stated in a release yesterday.
The release issued by Bishop Raymond Wickramasinghe and Rev. Fr. Cyril Gamini Fernando, chairman and secretary, Pope's Visit Media and Information Secretariat stated: "We wish to categorically deny this report and clarify matters as follows:
The decision to hold an election and the dates to be fixed for such an election is entirely in the hands of the government and the Elections Commissioner.
The Church has no interest in trying to interfere in that matter.
At no time did the President or anyone in the government apply any pressure on the Church to stop or postpone the visit of the Pope to Sri Lanka. In fact they have given us a lot of cooperation and support to make all the necessary arrangements for the visit. They have also officially sent an invitation from State to State to the Holy Father and it had been accepted.
The government also has informed us that the President, when he visited the Holy Father reiterated that the government was very keen to welcome him in Sri Lanka.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka had first invited the Pope and since it involves a State visit, the government followed up with their own invitation. Making use of this same opportunity we would like to appeal to all parties concerned not to instrumentalise the Pope's planned visit to Sri Lanka for any political gain and this should apply to all parties in contention in the election in the future.
It is also necessary that the media exercise responsibility in this matter and do not create unnecessary tension believing all kinds of articles and comments appearing in some of the social media or any other such programs. We hope and pray that we will be able to welcome the Holy Father with the traditional hospitality which is known for Sri Lanka and ask everyone to cooperate to make this event a success. We also wish to reiterate that only the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sri Lanka and the government of Sri Lanka along with the government of the Holy See will decide on all matters concerning this visit. Any other organisation or individuals, even Catholic priests, therefore are not authorised to pronounce decisions on this matter."
From: http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=local/popes-visit-church-says-poll-date-entirely-matter-govt
