Chennai, June 14: The Tamil Nadu Bishops' Council (TNBC) today took exception to chief minister Jayalalithaa's remarks against Pope John Paul II that the pontiff had no business to comment on the anti-conversion laws enacted by democratically elected governments in India. "We, the catholic bishops of Tamil Nadu, express our hurt and displeasure over the disrespectful criticism against the pope by the Chief Minister," the council said in a statement.

"As the leader of the world-wide catholic Christians, he has the right to express his concerns over the difficulties that the Christians are facing in certain parts of India today," the TNBC said, adding the pope had only raised his voice against an "obvious violation of human rights regarding religious freedom."

As a world-wide religious leader, the pope, who had been functioning as the "conscience keeper of the world," had always raised his voice against the violation of human rights and war.

"But, it is unfortunate that the good intentions of the pope are misconstrued by some people who make disrespectful comments against the spiritual leader of 1.2 billion catholics who form 17.3 per cent of the world population," the TNBC said.
Bureau Report