Mannar Bishop Appeals for Protection of Madhu Church
April 1st, 2008
The Catholic Bishop of Mannar Rt. Rev. Joseph Rayappu has lodged an urgent appeal that the Our Lady of the Rosary shrine at Marudhamadhu (Madhu) be protected from escalating military activity in the vicinity. Bishop Rayappu makes this appeal to both the Government of Sri Lanka and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and points out that increased shelling has caused many who sought refuge to move out as shells have started falling withing church area precincts. A prayer campaign has also been launched in this regard.
[Press Release issued by Bishop of Mannar]
[Madhu Church-pic by Mahesh]
Entry Filed under: Press Statement
19 Comments Add your own
1. VASEE | April 1st, 2008 at 2:27 pm
THIS SINGALISE MURDERER DONT CARE ABOUT CHURCH
2. Lasan | April 1st, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Apppeal to whom ? Would be nice if he can first negotiate with the enamy within the para meters of the church and then with the forces minimum of 2 k.m from the church.
I don’t think there is anything the Bishop can do at this moment.
May god bless all Sri Lankans.Tamil,Sinhalese,Muslim,Burgher,Malay and all the others. !
3. aratai | April 1st, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Don’t worry.
Once the area is captured by SL forces church will be ‘fixed’ so that the First Lady can visit.
4. J.S. Sundaralingam (Madras) | April 1st, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Rt.Rev. Joseph Rayappu , Please do ask LTTE cadres not to use church premises for attacking SL forces. Sri Lankan forces will definitely liberate Madhu Church during next couple of weeks. If LTTE really want to safeguard Tamil people, they should leave the church premises and fight in other areas. Both LTTE and government forces must protect the church.
5. Tim | April 1st, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Rev. Joseph Rayappu is a not a priest and he is a tamil tiger. he is always try to implement what LTTE want. The priest is not suit to our religion.
6. Sri Lankan Canadian | April 1st, 2008 at 5:50 pm
The chruch will fall under government forces and be liberated from terrorists soon..dont worry bishop if there is shelling its from the terroirsts
7. Sri Lankan Canadian | April 1st, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Let blood pour like river and purify the glory of Nation
8. Chana | April 1st, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Bishop Rayappu should ask terrorists to leave the shrine with due respect. If not he is asking for trouble and I’m sure he is awaiting for this to happen to blame the SL forces who are trying to liberate the area for the betterment of ordinary people.
Most venerable Pope should immeditely address the issue of clergy supporting terrorists.
There is now war against Tamils, Hindus, Catholics, Muslims, Burghers, Buddhists or any race or religion. It’s purely a war against ruthless terrorists.
9. Dave from Dubai | April 2nd, 2008 at 12:16 am
Dear Bishop,
We are in a very decisive stage. Our Heroes are going come to Madhu Church which we have never seen before in my 30 years of life. Please pray for god to give an opportunity to other part of our country people to come visit the Madhu Church with grace of God. If you are not doing so, you are not a selected person by God. Give the maximum support to our National heroes to liberate the area. We hope to see you soon to get the blessing of Ave Maria.
10. lucky | April 2nd, 2008 at 2:34 am
If the Bishop of Rt.Rev. Joseph Rayappu is true christian, he should request first LTTE to find shelter elsewhere not in the Church, as churches are for worshippers. For the sake of Chirstian and other feebale Tamils the Madu Church and the area should be liberated by the Sri Lanka Forces.
11. damma from uk | April 2nd, 2008 at 5:10 am
mr.Joseph, whare were you,when LTTE brought their heavy wepons close to your permse?
12. manori | April 2nd, 2008 at 5:25 am
Rev. Joseph Rayappu should consider the ground sitiation before shouting out loud.Truth is GOSL will have to go through the clean up & LTTE had use Madu shrine several time as a safe Artilary pad.If he is unable to controll LTTE movements in the church premises no point joining LTTE properganda.
13. paul | April 2nd, 2008 at 5:34 am
@ sri lankan canadian,
Why don’t you come back to Sri Lanka and spill ur own blood????
14. J.S. Sundaralingam (Madras) | April 2nd, 2008 at 7:35 am
Rev. Bishop must act wisely at this crucial juncture. He should ask both LTTE and security forces not to make the church yard a battle field. Rev. Bishop need not to be fear to tell the truth to the international community. He must ask LTTE cadres to leave the church yard at once. Why does the Bishop let LTTE cadres use the church premises? We must be thankful for the government forces for not shelling towards the church. However they will not be able to refrain from attacking the LTTE bunkers around the church for long. Many catholic people put the blame on the Bishop. However we believe he is under pressure and threat. Most of the Catholics are waiting eagerly to make pilgrimage to the sacred place as soon as the government forces liberate the area.
15. vije | April 2nd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
If there is god, what was he/she doing when so many innocent Tamils were killed?
If he or she cannot protect the innocent, why worry about his/her shrine.
16. N.Sathasivam | April 2nd, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Don’t worry Vije, brutal killings will be stopped soon. There will be no conscriptions, no abductions and the Tamil people will be able to live freely once the wanni is liberated. They will soon enjoy democracy as the eastern people do it now. Madu will be liberated soon too. So the people will make their holy pilgrimage without fear and suspicion. Tamils , Singalese, burghers and all can worship the shrine together. Better days are ahead. Thank God.
17. Sona | April 3rd, 2008 at 12:01 am
Peace for all Sri Lankans
18. NMR | April 3rd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
oh My God, most of the comments are pro-ARMY, what is happening to LTTE goons!!!!!!!
what a sad fate to LTTE
19. 2ndClassTamil | April 4th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Capturing the Madhu environs has been a political objective of GoSL for some time now to appease south, which has not seen any tangible outcome for a whole year. So there should be no doubt as to who started the offensive. That it has taken so long with all the might of the SLA to come somewhere near is testimony to the difficulties they face. Yet the story has not ended! Now that the statue has been taken away, any hard earned victory will sound hollow. MR obviously can’t make that speech he had prepared to pray at Madhu without LTTE permission. Lost the plot?
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