Kerala Catholic bishops meet begins amidst controversies

Kochi, Jun 10 (UNI) The Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) started its two-day meeting here today amidst renewed provocation from the State Government on the education front and the State Women's Commission's recent recommendation that girls below 18 years not be allowed to join convents.

Thirtyfour bishops from 29 Catholic dioceses from all over Kerala are attending the meeting, which has some 20 matters before it for discussion, KCBC spokesperson Fr Stephen Alathura told UNI.

Among the major issues to be discussed is the recent recommendation of the state women's commission on nuns, which has already been criticised by various Church denominations in Kerala.

Reacting to the commission's recommendation that girls below 18 years should be barred from joining convents, the church said the commission was ignorant about canon law.

The church has also opposed as a violation of the minority groups' rights, the state government's decision this year to introduce a 'single window' system for admission to higher secondary classes.

Major Archbishop of the Syromalabar Church Cardinal Varkey Mar Vithayathil and Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil of the Verapoly Archdiocese of the Latin Catholic rite are among those attending the meet.

UNI ARC ROY AKJ GC1535