Sun Apr 06 14:38:28 UTC 2025: ## Pala Bishop Criticizes Kerala MPs for Rejecting Waqf Bill, Calls for Catholic Unity
**Kottayam, April 6, 2025** – Pala Bishop Mar Joseph Kallarangatt has sharply criticized Kerala’s parliamentarians for voting against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, urging the Catholic community to unite against growing adversity. Speaking at an anti-drug awareness gathering encompassing all 171 parishes under the Pala diocese, Bishop Kallarangatt described the bill as a set of necessary democratic reforms aimed at curbing misuse of Waqf laws. He noted that the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) had expressed concerns to the MPs, criticizing their decision to follow party lines instead of exploring alternative solutions.
The bishop emphasized the Catholic community’s influence, despite its size, highlighting their potential to impact societal outcomes through moral strength and values. He dismissed justifications for violence against Christians, referencing comments by BJP leader P.C. George, calling them mere political excuses. Bishop Kallarangatt also ruled out the formation of a Catholic political party, stating that such an action would be unproductive. The event concluded with an anti-addiction pledge administered by Prasad Kuruvila, general secretary of the KCBC Temperance Commission.
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