Colombo (AsiaNews) - The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Sri Lanka (CBCSL) proclaims a national day of fasting, abstinence, and prayer for next April 3. In conjunction with the Friday of Passion Week, ahead of Easter, the bishops intend to call attention back to the possible passage of the anti-conversion bill, proposed by the Buddhist monks in the country and awaiting vote in parliament.
The bishops are issuing an appeal to all priests, religious and laity, asking them to present a united front at a difficult time in the nation's history. The bishops call for "divine intervention" to bring "harmony through reconciliation" among all citizens, and spare "the beloved country of another conflict among adherents of different faiths and religions," caused by the possible approval of the "anti-conversion bill."
For April 3, the episcopal conference is asking all the parishes and local communities, schools and religious institutions, including those not of Christian inspiration, to observe fasting and prayer for religious freedom in the country. The bishops stress that the funds collected will be used to assist the populations affected by the conflict between the government army and the Tamil rebels in the north of Sri Lanka. "Each diocese will be responsible for collecting the same to be forwarded to the bishops of the conflict zone," says a statement from the CBCSL signed by conference president Bishop Fernando Vianney and by secretary general Norbert M. Andradi.
Meanwhile, more initiatives are springing up in the country to illustrate the potential dangers contained in the anti-conversion bill, examining the social context and the legal ramifications of the law. In an interview with the Sinhala Catholic weekly newspaper Ganartha Pradeepaya, attorney Nevil Aberathne recalls that "there have been no cases of forced conversion over the past 25 years," essentially denying the need for a law on the matter. But he warns that "50% of the work is already done," and that bill, which is still pending, could be approved in the near future.