Religions must not be used for political ends: Cardinal Vithayathil

Kochi – Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, Major Archbishop of the Syro–Malabar Church has warned people to beware of religious leaders who use religion to for narrow political gains in India and divide the people on communal lines.

According to the Indian Catholic news agency, ICNS, the cardinal, in his benedictory speech in an all–religious meet convened in Manjapra near Kochi, flayed “certain religious leaders for spreading religious hatred among their followers in India.”

“These religious leaders use their followers as tools to further their own vested interests,” ICNS quoted the Syro–Malabar Church head as saying.

“It is high time to fight elements who have been trying to sabotage communal harmony in the country,” he said.

The cardinal also suggested that the public should identify these elements and isolate them as they are unfit for moral guidance.

Besides the cardinal, Sreemad Abhayananda Theertha Padhar, the supreme head of Parama Bhattaraka Math in Kerala and Hafis P H Abdul Gafar Moulavi, the Imam of Valiyapali in Thiruvananthapuram were some of the other speakers who also encouraged the people to promote religious tolerance and communal harmony and realize peace through love and cooperation.