Kerala Church protests NCW's proposal over ban of practicing sacrament of Holy confession

New Delhi, Aug 5: The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is observing August 5 as 'day of protest' against a recommendation of the National Commission for Women (NCW) to ban the sacrament of confession in churches.

In a statement on Saturday, Church authorities said,''We protest proposal of National Commission for Women to prohibit churches from practicing Sacrament of Holy Confession. This is against spirit of ancient Indian culture which respects different faiths with tolerance. Request Centre to reject this.''

The NCW had made the suggestion following a rape case involving four priests of the Orthodox Church. Many of the cases were linked to confessions and one, where the woman alleged years of sexual abuse, involved the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.