Freedom of religion should be respected: Archbishop

Kochi: Archbishop of Verapoly Mar Joseph Kalathiparambil said that freedom of religion should be respected in the country.
According to a statement issued by the public relations department of Verapoly archdiocese on Sunday, the archbishop called for continued prayers so that the upcoming elections take place as per God’s will and for freedom of religion to be respected in the country always.He also called for prayers for a governing system in the country which would uphold human dignity, and is bound to ensure justice, equality and fraternity.
In accordance with the call by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) to observe March 22 as national day of fasting and prayer across all dioceses in India, Kalathiparambil led the prayer gathering at St Francis Assisi Cathedral in Ernakulam on Friday, the statement said.
Vicar generals of Verapoly archdiocese Monsgr Mathew Kallunkal, Monsgr Mathew Elanjitmattom, Chancellor Fr Ebigin Arackal, Fr Peter Kochuveetil and Fr Emmanuel Panackal, along with hundreds of devotees took part in the gathering.
Meanwhile, job aspirants for civil police officer posts, who had been protesting at Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, had met Kalathiparambil in Ernakulam. The archbishop talked to the authorities concerned over the phone about the matter in the presence of the aspirants, a statement said.